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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1469
ANSWERED ON- 12/02/2026
CONSERVATION OF MITHILA PAINTINGS AND ARTS
1469 # SMT. DHARMSHILA GUPTA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of Central schemes currently being implemented for conservation and
promotion of Mithila paintings, Tikuli and Manjusha art;
(b) the number of artists in Bihar who have been provided training or financial assistance
under the schemes; and
(c) the specific steps taken by Government for promotion of these traditional folk arts at the
national and international levels?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b) Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata (an autonomous organization
under Ministry of Culture) has taken number of steps for conservation, promotion and
preservation of Bhitti Chitra Kala (Mithila), Tikuli Art and Manjusha Painting (Mithila) in
the State of Bihar.
Around 373 artists of Bihar have been provided training or financial assistance by EZCC
under Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme.
Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, and
its Regional Centres are mandated to promote and propagate various forms of visual arts in
order to preserve their collections of contemporary, traditional, folk, and tribal artworks. All
artworks are preserved in good condition and records are maintained in digital form.
LKA provides financial assistance to the art organizations which are constituted or
controlled by Government Associations of artists, Voluntary Organizations, NGOs, Faculties
of Fine Art in Universities, Art Colleges and Schools, Art Galleries which promote, support
and provide a platform to foster excellence in various dimensions of visual art of any
type/form. LKA awards assistance only to those registered organizations that have been
active for over three years. The financial assistance is given as per the prescribed eligibility
criteria for Camps, Workshops, Residency programmes, Seminars, Exhibitions, International
art and cultural exchanges including solo exhibitions, Award money to a maximum of Rs.
1,05,000/- or maximum five awards of Rs. 21,000/- each is provided for the purpose and any
promotional activity related to Visual Art & Artists. Rs. 5.00 lakh can be provided to art
organizations for promotional programmes which can be enhanced up to Rs. 10.00 lakh in
exceptional cases.
LKA has organized Jan Janani Janmabhoomi Camp at Madhubani, Bihar in which
approximately 80 female artists and 25 male artists participated. Many of the participating
artists were from the Bihar region. The Akademi paid honorarium to the artists as per its
approved norms. In addition, the Akademi regularly organizes camps, workshops &exhibitions and invites artists from Bihar to provide them with exposure and opportunities for
promotion of Visual Arts.
Apart from the above efforts, Government of India has recognized the contribution of
the artists in Mithila and Tikuli Paintings by conferring upon them Padma Shri awards:
Baua Devi (2017): A pioneer in creating Mithila art on paper and canvas.
Godawari Dutta (2019): Known for not using brushes, but rather fingers, twigs, and
nib-pens for her intricate work.
Dulari Devi (2021): A celebrated artist whose work reflects her life journey and
rural themes.
Subhadra Devi (2023): Recognized for her significant contribution to traditional
Madhubani art.
Shanti Devi Paswan (2024): Honoured for her mastery of the Godna (tattoo-
inspired) style of Mithila painting.
Shri Ashok Kumar Biswas (2024): a renowned folk artist from Bihar, was awarded
for his exceptional work in reviving and promoting Tikuli painting.
(c) For promotion of these traditional folk arts at the national level, various programmes
i.e. Indradhanush (a benchmark festival where performances of folk & tribal arts) is being
staged, Lok Rang (Folk Theatre Festival), Lok Utsav, Bhikhari Thakur Birth Anniversary,
Jhulan Parva, Ram Leela, Krishna Leela, Gatha Gayan (folk oral tradition), Adi Bimb
(festival of tribal arts), Chhath Parv, Saint Ravidas Jayanti, Celebration of 550th Birth
Anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji and workshops are being organized at regular intervals by
EZCC in the State of Bihar.
Under the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, an identified expert (Guru) passes his
knowledge to the Shishyas. Workshops are conducted regularly in the villages, so that more
shishyas can be benefitted from the schemes. Both the Gurus and Shishyas receive financial
support from EZCC.
EZCC provides a platform to practitioners of these art forms regularly at Regional,
State and National level.
Documentation in both print and electronic form is done by EZCC to preserve the
work of legendary Gurus. Master classes are also held for teaching, workshops, exhibitions,
symposium/seminars and bring art to the outside world from the villages which ensure a
sustainable means of livelihood to several artistes/artisans.
Ministry of Culture through its ZCCs organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs
(RSMs) at national level in the country by providing a platform to many folk/tribal artists
from all over India including the State of Bihar who showcase their talents during the event.
Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry of
Culture across the country.
Ministry of Culture had set up a cultural village viz. Kalagram during Maha Kumbh
in 2025 through North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC). 14,632 artists performed at
multiple stages across Mahakumbh.
LKA also organizes camps, workshops and exhibitions related to traditional folk and
visual art forms at both national and international levels, thereby providing platforms to
artists to promote and showcase these art forms. Lalit Kala Akademi Art Galleries provides
exhibition space to artists at LKA’s Headquarters at Delhi and Regional Centres in Lucknow,
Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chennai, Agartala and Garhi (New Delhi).Ministry of Culture also implements a scheme titled “Global Engagement Scheme” to
promote India’s rich cultural heritage and enhance India’s image in the global arena in a
concerted manner. The objective of the Scheme is to provide artists practicing Indian art
forms, an opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of ‘Festival of India’. Under the
Scheme, artists from diverse cultural fields such as Folk Art including Folk Music, Folk
Dance, Folk Theatre & Puppetry, Classical and Traditional Dance, Experimental/
Contemporary Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the ‘Festivals
of India’ abroad. Ministry of Culture has empanelled 627 artists/groups under various art
forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous organization under Ministry of
Culture, organizes festivals all over the country and provides grants-in-aid for research,
documentation & publishing in the performing arts. SNA also organizes & subsidizes
seminars, conferences, documents and records the performing arts for its audio-visual
archive.
Festival, Workshop & Exhibition are also organized by SNA which is designed to
establish/ support festivals both at the Regional and National levels to present classical,
traditional, tribal and other forms of Indian performing arts in order to preserve art tradition
in live practice and develop technique and creative process through performance &
workshop, by holding/supporting music festivals, Seminars, Workshops & Exhibitions etc.
The Akademi has brought into limelight many unknown and rare art forms including artists
of outstanding merit.
Since 2013, the Akademi has been holding a series of festivals titled ‘Desaj’ in
different regions of the country to promote and encourage artists in the field of folk and tribal
music, dance and theatre of the country.
SNA has a scheme “Survey, Research, Documentation, Dissemination & Publication”
under which recordings of different arts forms are preserved for the purpose of research and
dissemination. Under the said scheme, Akademi provides grant to individuals and cultural
institutions for research work and documentation of folk and tribal art forms of the country.
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