Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture addresses a parliamentary question regarding the promotion and preservation of Indian arts, culture, and heritage, particularly concerning folk artists in Karnataka. The Ministry outlines various schemes and initiatives, including those run by Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs), financial assistance programs, and platforms for national and international exposure. It details financial support for artists and organizations and reports the number of artists in Karnataka who have benefited from these schemes in 2024-25.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):**
* Seven ZCCs have been established across India to organize cultural activities and programs.
* These ZCCs implement schemes like Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre Rejuvenation, Research Documentation, Shilpgram, Octave, and National Cultural Exchange Programme.
* **Financial Assistance Schemes:**
* GuruShishya Parampara Repertory Grant Scheme provides financial support to folk artists, offering Rs. 15,000 per month for the Guru and Rs. 2,000-10,000 per month for the Shishya.
* The Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists scheme provides Rs. 6,000 per month to artists aged 60 and above with an annual income not exceeding Rs. 72,000.
* In 2024-25, 397 artists from Karnataka benefited from this scheme.
* **Karnataka's Involvement:**
* Karnataka is a member of the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur, which engages folk artists from Karnataka for cultural activities.
* In 2024-25, 716 artists from Karnataka benefited from SZCC, Thanjavur.
* **Promotion of Traditional Fair Festivals:**
* The Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG) provides financial assistance to organizations for cultural events, with grants up to Rs. 5.00 lakh, potentially increasing to Rs. 20.00 lakh in exceptional cases.
* **National and International Platforms:**
* Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) offer a national platform for folk artists, including those from Karnataka.
* The Global Engagement Scheme promotes Indian art forms internationally through the "Festival of India," providing opportunities for artists to perform abroad.
Impact Analysis:
* **Folk Artists:**
* Impact: Benefit from financial assistance, performance opportunities, and national/international exposure.
* Action Required: Apply for relevant schemes and participate in organized events.
* **Cultural Organizations (NGOs, Societies, Trusts, Universities):**
* Impact: Can receive financial assistance to organize cultural events and promote traditional arts.
* Action Required: Apply for the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG) to receive funding for cultural programs.
* **Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing various schemes and organizing cultural activities to promote regional arts and culture.
* Action Required: Continue organizing cultural programs, managing schemes, and supporting artists within their respective zones.
* **Ministry of Culture:**
* Impact: Oversees and administers various schemes aimed at promoting and preserving Indian arts, culture, and heritage.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of the schemes, providing financial support, and organizing national/international events to promote Indian culture.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the promotion of arts and culture.
Karnataka: A state in South India, specifically mentioned in the context of supporting folk artists and traditional fairs.
SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY: A member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about promotion of arts, culture, and heritage.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs): Seven regional cultural centers established by the Government of India to promote culture and heritage, with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
Guru Shishya Parampara: A scheme implemented by ZCCs and also run as GuruShishya Parampara Repertory Grant Scheme by Ministry of Culture which supports folk artists through financial assistance to Guru (teacher) and Shishya (student).
Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG): A scheme run by the Ministry of Culture to provide financial assistance to NGOs, societies, trusts, and universities for organizing cultural events.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs): National level festivals organized by the Ministry of Culture through its ZCCs to provide a platform for folk artists from all over India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1262
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
PROMOTION OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
1262. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the schemes being run by the Government to protect, promote and preserve
various forms of folk art and culture as well as to promote the culture and heritage of the
country;
(b) the details of the financial schemes being run by the Government to support the folk
artists of all genres of performing arts in Karnataka and the number of artists benefited
from it; and
(c) whether the Government has any special scheme to promote folk artists of Karnataka on
the national and international platforms and if so, the details thereof along with the
financial assistance being provided by the Government to promote the traditional fair
festivals of Karnataka?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture as well as to
promote the culture and heritage of the country, the Government of India has set up seven
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj,
Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and
programmes on regular basis in their member States. The ZCCs also implement number of
schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre
Rejuvenation, Research & Documentation, Shilpgram, Octave, and National Cultural
Exchange Programme to promote the culture and heritage of their member States.
(b) Ministry of Culture runs Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) Scheme under
which financial support is provided to folk artists of all genres of performing arts viz. musical
groups, dance groups, theatre groups including children theatre, music ensembles etc. Under
the scheme, the amount of assistance for Guru (leader of the Group) is Rs. 15,000/- per
month and for the Shishya is Rs. 2,000-10,000/- per month depending upon the age of the
artist.
Ministry of Culture also administers a scheme for Financial Assistance to Veteran
Artists under which financial assistance is provided to the eligible veteran artists of the
country including the State of Karnataka. The objective of this scheme is to provide financial
assistance of Rs. 6,000/- p.m. to the old artists and scholars aged 60 years and above having
annual income not exceeding Rs. 72,000/- who have contributed significantly in their
specialized fields of arts, letters etc. In the event of death of the beneficiary, the financial
assistance is transferred to his/her spouse.
During the year 2024-25, 397 artists of Karnataka have been benefited under this
scheme.Karnataka is a member State of South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur (an
autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) who engages folk artists from the State
of Karnataka during various cultural activities & programmes organized by them for which
artists are paid honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging, local transport etc. During the year
2024-25, 716 artists of Karnataka have been benefited by SZCC, Thanjavur.
(c) To promote the traditional fair festivals of the country including Karnataka, Ministry
of Culture runs a scheme viz. Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG) under
which financial assistance is provided to NGOs/ Societies/ Trusts/ Universities etc. for
organizing Seminars, Conferences, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia,
Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. Under this scheme, the maximum grant is
Rs. 5.00 lakh which can be increased to Rs. 20.00 lakh in exceptional cases.
Ministry of Culture through its ZCCs organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs
(RSMs) at national level in the country by providing a platform to a large number of folk
artists from all over India including the State of Karnataka who showcase their talents during
the event. Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry
of Culture.
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 a number of artists/groups under
various art forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad.
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