Parliament Question: Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Dances

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31/07/2025 PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL DANCES

2040. SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any schemes in place for the preservation and promotion of tribal cultural dances across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken note of the declining popularity and near-extinction of the Kommu tribal dance of the Koya tribe in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has formulated any specific plans for the protection and promotion of the Kommu dance and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any funds have been released or earmarked for these initiatives and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government is considering the inclusion of tribal cultural dances such as the Koya's Kommu dance in school curricula to ensure their transmission to future generations, if so, the details thereof; and

(g) whether any funds have been released or earmarked for such curricular initiatives and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) to (e): Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored scheme ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)’ extends financial support to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in States/Union Territories (UTs) including Tribal Research Institute, Andhra Pradesh on the basis of the Annual Action Plan submitted by the States/UTs subject to the approval of the Apex Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under the scheme, proposals relating to, inter-alia research & documentation activities and training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal festivals, yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage and tourism and organisation of exchange visits by tribals are organised so that their cultural practices including dance forms, languages and ritual are preserved and disseminated. TRIs are primarily institutions under the administrative control of the State Government/UT Administration.

As informed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the following significant steps have been taken for the preservation and promotion of tribal cultural dances of tribes in Andhra Pradesh state.  (5) Video Documentation completed on tribal dance forms are Dhimsa, Mayura performed by Khond

(PVTG), Thongseng performed by Savara (PVTG), Kommu Koya performed by Koya & Chenchata dance performed by Chenchu (PVTG) for the digital repository.  The 5 videos uploaded on the MoTA website, TRI YouTube channel etc.https://youtu.be/RB4pwE6lxB4

https://youtu.be/oIOt5y83d2A Further, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken several steps to preserve and conserve cultural dance forms for the next generations. At the ITDA level, the cultural performers of Kommu tribal dance of the Koya tribe are encouraged to perform Kommu Koya dance in all important occasions, tribal festivals, melas, official functions and inaugural events etc., for showcasing living cultural heritage.

(f) & (g): No proposal for the inclusion of tribal cultural dances such as the Koya's Kommu dance in school curricula to ensure their transmission to future generations is under consideration of the Ministry.

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