**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. †85 in Lok Sabha, regarding the preservation of cultural heritage in Uttarakhand, to be answered on 01.12.2025. It outlines the Government of India's schemes and efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi to preserve and promote cultural heritage, festivals, and folk art in the state.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Protected Monuments/Sites:**
* 43 centrally protected monuments/sites in Uttarakhand are under the care and maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
* Conservation is based on the National Policy for Conservation and resource availability.
* **Promotion of Folk Art and Culture:**
* The Sangeet Natak Akademi actively promotes folk, traditional, and tribal performing arts through its schemes.
* Organized "Kala Dharohar" workshops dedicated to Meera Bai at Suyalbari, Nainital (23-24 August 2024), Dehradun (14-15 November 2024), Tapowan, Tehri Garhwal (14-15 November 2024), and Chamoli (11-12 December 2024).
* Organized Kala Pravah festivals of music and dance at Kasar Devi Temple, Almora: 06 July 2024 and in June 2023.
* **Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):**
* Seven ZCCs are established to protect, promote, and preserve folk art and culture.
* Uttarakhand is a member of North Zone Cultural Centre (NCZC), Patiala and North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj, which organize cultural events and art promotion.
* **Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs):**
* Ministry of Culture organizes RSMs through ZCCs to showcase folk and tribal artists.
* **"Kala Deeksha" Training Programs:**
* Sangeet Natak Akademi initiated four training programs of performing art forms of Uttarakhand under the "Kala Deeksha" scheme. These are:
* Folk Songs of Garhwal region (Padavani & Manglik Geet) under Guru Ganga Devi Rana, Chamoli.
* Mashak Been under Guru Harish Lal, Chamoli
* Hudka under Guru Loveraj Ram, Munsiyari.
* Folk Songs of Kumaon region (Neoli, Chhapeli, Bhagnaul and Sanskar Geet) Pushpa Fartyal, Almora.
* **Financial Assistance to Cultural Institutions:**
* Sangeet Natak Akademi provides financial assistance to cultural institutions in Uttarakhand.
* Amounts provided:
* 2021-22: ₹2.0 lakh (05 organizations)
* 2022-23: ₹3.30 lakh (08 organizations)
* 2023-24: ₹2.20 lakh (05 organizations)
* **Impact:**
* The Ministry of Culture observes a positive impact on preserving and promoting cultural heritage through its programs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Local Artists of Uttarakhand**
*Impact:*
Beneficiaries of the schemes promoting cultural festivals, folk art, and financial assistance.
*Action Required:*
Participate in organized events, apply for financial assistance.
**Cultural Institutions of Uttarakhand**
*Impact:*
Eligible to receive financial assistance from the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
*Action Required:*
Apply for financial assistance to support cultural activities.
**Citizens of Uttarakhand**
*Impact:*
Benefit from the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and access to cultural events.
*Action Required:*
Engage with the cultural activities and initiatives in the state.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, arts and folk traditions.
Uttarakhand: The Indian state for which the preservation of cultural heritage is being discussed.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The Indian government agency responsible for the research and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama of India; involved in promoting folk and tribal performing arts through its schemes.
Kala Deeksha: A scheme by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for training programmes of performing art forms.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †85
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OF UTTARAKHAND
†85. SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for preservation of the cultural
heritage of the Uttarakhand State;
(b) the efforts being made to promote cultural festivals and folk art;
(c) whether any financial assistance is being provided to the local artists; and
(d) the extent to which these initiatives have helped in conservation of cultural heritage?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 43 centrally protected monuments/sites under the care and maintenance of
& Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the state of Uttarakhand. Conservation of these
(b) monuments/sites is taken up as per the need and availability of resources subject to the
National Policy for Conservation, and these monuments/sites are in a good state of
preservation.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi is committed to the preservation and promotion of folk,
traditional and tribal performing arts through its schemes. The Akademi has organized
the following festivals in Uttarakhand in the recent past:
Kala Dharohar - a series of Workshops dedicated to Meera Bai at Suyalbari,
Nainital, 23-24 August 2024
Kala Dharohar - a series of Workshops dedicated to Meera Bai at Dehradun 14-
15 November 2024
Kala Dharohar - a series of Workshops dedicated to Meera Bai at Tapowan, Tehri
Garhwal, 14-15 November 2024
Kala Dharohar, a series of Workshops dedicated to Meera Bai at Chamoli, 11-12
December 2024
Kala Pravah- The Akademi organized two-day festivals of music and dance on 06
July 2024 at the Kasar Devi Temple at Almora
Kala Pravaah, Mandir Utsav Series, in June 2023 at Kasar Devi Mandir at
Almora.
Cont….2..-2-
To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture throughout the
country, the Government of India has also set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs)
These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in their
member States. As Uttarakhand is a member State of both North Zone Cultural Centre
(NCZC), Patiala and North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj, cultural
festivals and art promotion in Uttarakhand are organized by these ZCCs.
Besides, Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at
national level through these ZCCs where a large number of folk & tribal artists including
local artists from all over India are engaged to showcase their talents to spread awareness
about our rich cultural heritage.
Further, Sangeet Natak Akademi has started the following four training programmes of
performing art forms of Uttarakhand under the scheme “Kala Deeksha” (Guru Shishya
Parampara)
- Folk Songs of Garhwal region (Padavani & Manglik Geet) under Guru Ganga
Devi Rana, Chamoli.
- Mashak Been under Guru Harish Lal, Chamoli
- Hudka under Guru Loveraj Ram, Munsiyari.
- Folk Songs of Kumaon region (Neoli, Chhapeli, Bhagnaul and Sanskar Geet)
Pushpa Fartyal, Almora.
(c) Sangeet Natak Akademi’s scheme of Financial Assistance to Cultural Institution is one
of the several schemes formulated by the Akademi to further its objectives. Year - wise
beneficiary Cultural institutions of Uttarakhand are as under:
Year No. of organisations Total amount
2021-22 05 2.0 lakh
2022-23 08 3.30 lakh
2023-24 05 2.20 lakh
(d) Through its various programs, Ministry of Culture is seeing a positive impact to preserve
and promote Cultural heritage.
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