Parliament Question: Preservation of Folk Dance Forms of Goa

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 133 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 PRESERVATION OF FOLK DANCE FORMS OF GOA *133. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is likely to allocate targeted grants and promote youth inclusion under Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi and Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) Scheme to rejuvenate Fugdi and Dhalo dance forms observed during festivals in Pernem and Canacona in view of their status being on the verge of extinction, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the measures likely to be implemented by the Government to ensure wider reach and cultural transmission such as offering performance fees, marketing support and school outreach in view of the declining participation and audiences at Kala Academy’s Mando Festival; (c) whether the Government is likely to enforce transparency in cultural event funding, safeguard against politicization and require alternate platforms when local festivals are derailed following abrupt cancellation of Canacona Kala Utsav in the past, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government proposes to launch a ‘Living Traditions’ documentation and certification programme for folk forms, funding local archiving, teacher training and digital performances to preserve Fugdi, Dhalo, and Mando as Intangible Cultural Heritage; and (e) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government to promote traditional Shigmo festival? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 133 FOR REPLY ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING PRESERVATION OF FOLK DANCE FORMS OF GOA ASKED BY SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES (a) Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) programme is being implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India which was launched as Budget Announcement for financial year 2023- 24 to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural eco-system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats with the objective to “Restore Mangrove Forests” by undertaking mangrove reforestation/ afforestation measures along the coast of India. The overall responsibility for implementation of programme vests with the State Forest Department. The MISHTI programme is being implemented through convergence with State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA - approx. 70%), erstwhile Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) now known as Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin - approx. 30%), Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) and other similar initiatives in the States/UTs with the provision for gap-funding from National CAMPA. Subsequent fund release is contingent upon compliance with MISHTI’s multi-tier monitoring system, which requires state-level monitoring of intervention sites, and submission of physical and financial progress reports as per CAMPA rules. A sum of Rs. 88.44 crores have been released to the 5 States and 1 Union Territory for the treatment of 9536 ha of degraded mangroves. The breakup of which is provided below: Sl. No. State/UT No. of Area under Total funds Total funds districts N-CAMPA released in FY released in FY (in ha) 2024-25 2025-26* (Rs. in crores) (Rs. in crores) i. Gujarat 02 2500 6.20 37.100 01 5000 00.00 24.000 ii. West Bengal 03 478 3.74 00.000 iii. Kerala 01 13 0.666 1.0140 iv. Puducherry 03 55 1.94 00.000 v. Andhra Pradesh 06 1401 4.709 8.368 vi. Odisha 04 89 0.7027 00.000 Total 9536 17.96 70.482 *Status as on 01.02.2026 The Government of India has set up West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) at Udaipur (Rajasthan) under Ministry of Culture to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture of its member States. Goa is the member State of WZCC. Various cultural activities & programmes are organized by WZCC on regular basis for which they engage folk/ tribal artists from its member States including the State of Goa. WZCC has included Kalsi Fugadi Dance & Dhalo Dance in Yatra Paschimalap Programme and Dhangari Fugadi in Uttradhikar Programme organized by them during the year 2020-21. WZCC has also done documentation/ publication work relating to Goa, the details of which are as under: Sl. No. Details Documentation work donei. Folk Dances of Goa Book published ii. Kunbi iii. Tanka Amache Naman Goa Audio iv. Mime Workshop Panaji Goa Video v. Terracotta Art of Goa (b) & (c) Kala Academy’s Mando Festival and Canacona Kala Utsav are organized by the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa and as such are not in the administrative domain of Government of India. However, WZCC organizes/ participates in various cultural festivals in Goa like Octave, Yatra Paschimalap, Uttradhikar, Lokotsav, Balotsav, Ganeshotsav, Natyotsav etc. for which they engage folk/ tribal artists to showcase their talent during these programmes. These artists are paid honorarium, TA/DA, local transportation, boarding & lodging etc. as performance fees to enable them to earn their livelihood. To promote the traditional fair festivals of the country including Goa, Ministry of Culture runs a scheme viz. Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG) under which financial assistance is provided to organizations for organizing Seminars, Conferences, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama- Theatre, Music etc. The grant released to the organizations located in Goa under this scheme during the last five years is as under: (Rs. in lakh) Sl. No. Year Amount released i. 2020-21 0.75 ii. 2021-22 3.75 iii. 2022-23 0.62 iv. 2023-24 1.50 v. 2024-25 2.12 (d) The ZCCs under Ministry of Culture play a pivotal role to preserve, document and disseminate our folk and tribal art forms amongst the new generation of enthusiasts & practitioners and undertake documentation work which includes Audio, Video, Publication, Monographs viz. Lac Doll, Natua, Chadar Badar Puppetry, Gotipua Dance, Saura Painting, Mural Paintings, Lama Dance, Mayurbhanj Chhau, Giddha Folk Dance, Jhoomer Dance, Monastries of Ladakh, Bhand Pather, Phummaniyam, Burrakatha, Song of Kalamkari, Dhola Maru, Sarguja Ke Pahadi Korba, Khadi Gammat, Liangmai Naga Folk Songs, Miteri Sainu, Angami Folk Songs, Documentary Films (Horn House, Rikhiya Bhawan & Dhangari Gaza), Lambadi, Bommalattam, Pulikali, Shadow Puppetry, Deva Koothu, Sambalpuri Dance, Manthrankam Koodiyattam, Kaniyan Koothu, Kathakali, Kummati Kali, Gorwara Kunitha, Kani Halige, Jogathi Nritya, Sutradha Gombe, Suggi Kunitha, Karadimajalu, Nilgare, Bonalu, Dhimsa Nritya, Resonating Burra, Ganesh Nartan, Folk Dances of Goa & Kunbi (Book Published), Terracotta Art, Mime Workshop, Tanka Amache Naman etc. Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has been committed to linking education with culture since its inception in 1979. CCRT has played a pivotal role in embedding cultural heritage into pedagogy by conducting diverse training programs aimed at in-service government and government-aided school teachers, teacher educators and administrators, ranging from Primary to Senior Secondary levels. CCRT has also implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in all its teacher training programs and workshops, ensuring that cultural education aligns with the vision of the NEP to promote holistic and multi- disciplinary learning. CCRT also collects material on Indian Culture and Cultural Heritage in the form of Video Documentary films to preserve them and these films are given to the schools to use in variety of teaching and learning situations to promote them.(e) Shigmo festival is organized by Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa. The Ministry supports the festival by way of sponsoring artists through WZCC upon the request of Department of Art & Culture, Government of Goa. *****