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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2669
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026
PRESERVATION OF TAMIL CULTURAL HERITAGE
2669. SHRI THIRU ARUN NEHRU :
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether adequate funding has been provided for classical Tamil language centres across
Tamil Nadu despite its ancient literary heritage;
(b) the details of the reasons for slow progress in comprehensive digitisation of Sangam
literature and palm leaf manuscripts; and
(c) the details of the specific support extended for Jallikattu as cultural festival including
infrastructure, safety measures and international recognition efforts?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Yes Sir. The details of the funds (in lakhs) allocated for the promotion of the Classical
Tamil language during the last five years are as under:
Year Funds (Rs in Lakhs)
2021-22 1200.00
2022-23 1200.00
2023-24 1525.00
2024-25 1430.00
2025-26 1697.00
(b) Palm leaf manuscripts are dispersed across temples, mutts, private collections and
various institutions across the country. Many of them remain uncatalogued, and their
identification, verification and documentation require considerable time and field-level
efforts. Also, digitisation of palm leaf manuscripts requires specialised expertise,
including trained conservators, manuscriptologists and scholars proficient in ancient
and regional scripts. The availability of such experts is limited. Absence of standardised
metadata and proper preliminary documentation necessitates detailed scholarly
examination prior to digitisation, which further slows the process.
(c) No specific support has been extended by the Ministry of Culture for Jallikattu
However, the Ministry, through its Autonomous organization like South Zonal Cultural
Centre (SZCC), undertakes programmes aimed at the preservation and promotion of
traditional cultural practices and heritage of the region
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