Lok Sabha Question No. 4876 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Heritage Conservation and Culture-Based Livelihoods under Panch Pranas
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. ✝

## 4876

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND CULTURE-BASED LIVELIHOODS UNDER PANCH PRANAS

## ✝ 4876. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  policy  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  culture  a  means  of livelihood, employment and social empowerment by linking the goals of 'freedom from colonial  mindset'  and  'pride  in  heritage'  with  public  welfare  under  the  Panch  Pranas along with the proposed strategies for future;
- (b) whether the Government has developed an integrated policy/framework to link folk art, tribal traditions, handicrafts, traditional knowledge and Indian languages with education, skill  development,  tourism  and  the  digital  economy,  thereby  ensuring  income  and livelihoods for artists and communities; and
- (c) the details of steps taken by the Government to develop museums, monuments, cultural institutions  and  festivals  as  centers  of  local  employment,  youth  participation  and community development, beyond just conservation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c): The  Government  has  taken  several  policy  and  programme  initiatives  to  make culture  a  source  of  livelihood,  employment  and  social  empowerment,  in  line  with  the  Panch Pranas. The Ministry of Culture runs the following Schemes for promotion of both tangible and intangible art and culture to link folk art, tribal traditions, handicrafts, traditional knowledge and Indian languages with education, skill development, tourism and the digital economy, thereby ensuring income and livelihoods for artists and communities:

- i. Centenaries and Anniversaries Scheme
- ii. Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana
- iii. Development of Museums
- iv. Development of Libraries
- v. Global Engagement
- vi. Gyan Bharatam Mission
- vii. National Mission on Cultural Mapping and Roadmap

All these schemes are implemented through a network of 43 field organizations of Ministry.

The  Ministry  has  established  seven  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  (ZCCs)  headquartered  in  Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur  which  organise various  cultural festivals  and  programmes  on  regular  basis  which  engages  local  folk  artists  thereby  generating income and livelihoods for artists and communities.

The Ministry of Culture further empowers the community through:

-  Skill  Development: Initiatives  like  the  Guru-Shishya  Parampara  and  capacity-building workshops provide market-relevant skills. Institutions such as the Indian Institute of Heritage provide training and capacity building in heritage management and conservation.
-  Market  Linkages: Digitization,  e-market  platforms,  and  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs (RSMs) allow artists to showcase talent and sell handmade products directly.
-  Major Festivals: Events such as Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav, Vividhata Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Kashi  Tamil  Sangamam,  Saurashtra  Tamil  Sangamam,  Madhavpur  Ghed  Fair  etc  offer national visibility to tribal and folk performers.
-  Institutional Support: Various organizations under Ministry of Culture align heritage with the  Panch  Pranas,  hosting  workshops  (e.g.,  Madhubani  painting,  weaving),  documentation, research,  dissemination  and  science  training  to  foster  employment,  youth  participation  and social empowerment.

Ministry of Culture also administers 08 Museums, 52 archaeological site museums of ASI and various  science  museums  established  by  National  Council  of  Science  Musuems  (NCSM) nationwide, which helps in creating local employment.

To encourage Community Participation (Jan Bhagidari), the Ministry has launched the Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme, facilitating structured partnerships with public and private entities. To date,  30  MoUs  have  been  executed  for  non-conservation  activities  aimed  at  enhancing  visitor experience and local livelihoods. Furthermore, the ASI conducts people-centric initiatives during events like World Heritage Day to foster national heritage awareness and local participation.

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