Parliament Question: Assistance to artists

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4359 ANSWERED ON- 02/04/2026 ASSISTANCE TO ARTISTS 4359. SHRI A. D. SINGH: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the number of artists and organizations supported under the Zonal Cultural Centres, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi and Sahitya Akademi schemes during the last three years; (b) whether Government plans to increase financial assistance to folk and tribal artists; and (c) the steps taken to revive endangered traditional art forms and ensure fair remuneration to artists? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) The number of artists supported by Zonal Cultural Centres (autonomous organizations under Ministry of Culture) during the last three years are as under: Sl. Year Number of artists No. supported i. 2023-24 66367 ii. 2024-25 63523 iii. 2025-26 49104 Sangeet Natak Akademi under Ministry of Culture engaged more than 2500 folk and tribal artists from all over India in Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam dance programme held on the occasion of Republic Day Parade-2025 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The Akademi also engaged more than 250 folk and tribal artists from all over India on the occasion of Twentieth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December, 2025 at Lal Quila, Delhi. Further, the Akademi engaged 250 folk and tribal artists from all over India on the occasion of Closing Ceremony of Birsa Munda Birth Anniversary held in November, 2025 at Gujarat. Sangeet Natak Akademi runs a scheme namely “Financial Assistance to Cultural Institutions” under which grant-in-aid is provided to select cultural institutions engaged in promotion of performing arts like music, dance and drama. This scheme serves primarily two objectives viz. provide financial support to institutions engaged in training in the fields of music, dance drama etc. and to encourage production of new plays and ballets etc. Financial assistance granted to cultural institutions under this scheme from 2021-22 to 2023-24 is as under: Year No. of Cultural Amount Institutions 2021-22 759 Rs. 3,34,40,000/- 2022-23 1014 Rs. 4,67,45,000/- 2023-24 748 Rs. 3,11,09,820/-Number of artists supported by Regional Centres under Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) during the last three years are as under: Sl. Name of Regional Number of No. Centres artists i. Bhubaneswar 1800 ii. Garhi 186 iii. NERC, Agartala 150-180 iv. Kolkata 2000 Lalit Kala Akademi has organized number of camps, workshops, exhibitions, lecture demonstrations, seminars and other art-related programmes across the country during the last three years. Approximately 30,000 artists/ students/ junior artists/ school students have participated in these activities. The Lalit Kala Akademi provides scholarship to 75 scholars annually in the field of Printmaking, Art History, Painting, Sculpture, Art Curation & Documentation and Photography etc. all over India. The objective of the scheme is to provide young artists a work space where their skills can be improved and they can develop innovative ideas in the field of Visual Arts. The amount of scholarship is Rs. 20,000/- per month to each scholar. During the last 3 years, the Akademi has extended scholarship benefits to 205 scholars under this scheme. (b) The Ministry of Culture, in the year 2024, has already revised the honorarium of folk/tribal artists at the rate of Rs. 3,000/- per artist for the first day, Rs. 1,500/- per artist for the second day, and Rs. 900/- per artist per day for the remaining days of the programme. At present, the Lalit Kala Akademi provides honorarium to artists to the tune of Rs. 29,500/- for National Camps and Rs. 20,000/- for Regional Camps. Under the scheme of Financial Assistance to the Art Organizations, LKA provides award money of Rs. 1,05,000/- (maximum) or five awards of Rs. 21,000/- each. Lalit Kala Akademi under the said scheme sanctions assistance to art organizations up to Rs. 5.00 lakh for the art promotional programmes which can be enhanced up to Rs. 10.00 lakh in exceptional cases and in case of International Events, it could be higher. (c) To revive endangered traditional art forms, ZCCs have aptly discharged their responsibilities of preserving and propagating our folk and tribal art forms - dance, music, art and performing arts, etc. The ZCCs have played a pivotal role to preserve, document and disseminate the dynamics of our folk and tribal art forms amongst the new generation of enthusiasts and practitioners. Further, Research & Documentation Scheme supports the preservation and promotion of fading visual and performing arts across disciplines like music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts. These ZCCs are also involved in recording and documenting endangered folk/ tribal art forms as well as printing books, reports and stories related to folklore and oral history. Folk/ tribal artists are engaged by ZCCs to showcase their talents in various cultural programmes/ activities organized by these ZCCs for which they are paid fixed honorarium, DA/TA, boarding & lodging etc.Sangeet Natak Akademi has started about 90 training programmes in dying traditional, folk and tribal performing art forms across the country under the scheme "Kala Deeksha" (Guru Shishya Parampara) which contributes to inclusive and equitable economic growth and development. Under this scheme, the guru is given Rs. 8000/- per month and assistant gurus are given Rs. 6000/- per month as honorarium/fee/salary and stipend trainees are given Rs. 2500/- per month. Lalit Kala Akademi has undertaken several initiatives to promote and revive traditional and indigenous art forms, including: i. Special camps, workshops and exhibitions focusing on folk and tribal art traditions across various regions of the country. ii. Providing platforms to traditional artists through national and regional camps/workshops and exhibitions, enabling wider visibility and recognition. iii. Facilitating interaction between senior/master artists and young/emerging artists to ensure transmission of traditional knowledge. iv. Extending financial support in the form of honorarium, awards and scholarships, thereby ensuring fair remuneration. v. Documentation and promotion of traditional art practices through publications and curated programmes. These initiatives collectively contribute to preservation, promotion and sustainable development of endangered traditional art forms while ensuring fair compensation to artists. *****