Parliament Question: Promotion of Folk Art and Music in Bhiwandi

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †3479 ANSWERED ON 10.8.2026 PROMOTION OF FOLK ART AND MUSIC IN BHIWANDI †3479. Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre: Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the details of number of artists, folk artists, artisans and cultural organizations benefited from Government schemes in the Bhiwandi region of Maharashtra; (b) whether the Government is implementing any special scheme to promote local folk art, folk music and traditional handicrafts; (c) whether the Government proposes to establish a cultural centre, museum or art gallery in Bhiwandi; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) & (b) The Ministry of Culture is implementing Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) under which financial assistance is provided for promotion of art and culture including local folk art & folk music across the country including the State of Maharashtra. The brief of the various scheme components under KSVY are given at Annexure-I. Further, being a Central Sector Scheme, no district-wise data has been maintained under KSVY. Accordingly, the number of beneficiaries, including cultural organizations and artists benefitted, across the country including the State of Maharashtra under the sub-schemes of KSVY during last financial year i.e. 2025-26 is at Annexure-II. In addition, the Ministry of Culture has set up South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur and West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), Udaipur to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture of their member States which include Maharashtra (Bhiwandi). These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis for which they engage folk/ tribal artists from their member States including Maharashtra (Bhiwandi) to participate in the cultural programmes/activities/festivals organized by them.A number of stalls are also set up during these programmes, where artisans from various parts of the country, including Maharashtra, exhibit and sell their handmade products, thereby creating livelihood opportunities and promoting traditional crafts. 6101 artists/ artisans of Maharashtra have been benefitted by these ZCCs during the last three years. (c) At present, no such proposal is under consideration to establish a cultural centre, museum or art gallery in Bhiwandi. (d) Doest not arise.Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a&b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †3479 due for answer on 10.08.2026 1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF GURU-SHISHYA PARAMPARA(REPERTORY GRANT) The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support for all genres ofperforming arts activities like dramatic groups, theatre groups, music ensembles, childrentheatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on regular basis in linewith Guru–Shishya Parampara. As per the scheme, support is provided to 1 Guru and maximum18 Shishyas in the field of theatre, music & dance. The Amount of Assistance for Guru isRs.15000/- per month and for Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-per month depending uponthe age of artist. 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: Thisscheme has following sub-components : i. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence The objective of this scheme component is to promote and support cultural organisationswith national presence involved in promotion of art and culture throughout the country. Thisgrant is given to such organisations that have a properly constituted managing body, registeredin India; having a pan-India character with national presence in its operation; adequate workingstrength; and have spent 1 crore or more during 3 of the last 5 years on cultural activities. Thequantum of grant under this scheme is Rs.1.00 crore which can be increased to Rs.5.00 crore inexceptional cases. ii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG) The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGOs/Societies/ Trusts/ Universities etc. for Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals,Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. The quantum of grantunder this scheme is Rs.5 Lakh for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 20.00 lakhs inexceptional cases. iii. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage ofthe Himalayas The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage ofthe Himalayas through research, training and dissemination through audio visual programmes.The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the HimalayanRegion i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.The quantum of grant is Rs.10.00 lakh per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakh in exceptional cases. iv. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/TibetanOrganizationUnder this scheme component financial assistance is provided to the voluntaryBuddhist/Tibetan organizations including Monasteries engaged in the propagation and scientificdevelopment of Buddhist/Tibetan Cultural and tradition and research in related fields. Thequantum of funding under scheme component is Rs. 30.00 lakhs per year for an organizationwhich can be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases. v. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust,Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc. for creation of Culturalinfrastructure (i.e. studio theatre, auditorium, rehearsal hall, classroom etc.) and provision offacilities like electrical, air conditioning, acoustics, light and sound systems etc. Under thisscheme component, the maximum amount of grant is up to Rs.50 Lakh in metro cities and up toRs.25 Lakh in non- metro cities. vi. Domestic Festivals and Fairs The objective of this scheme is to provide assistance for holding the ‘Rashtriya SanskritiMahotsavs’ organized by Ministry of Culture. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) areconducted through Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) where a large number of artists from all overthe country are engaged to showcase their talents. From November, 2015 onwards, fourteen(14) RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture in the country. 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TAGORE CULTURALCOMPLEXES (TCC) The aim of the scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust,Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, State / UT Govt. University, Central/State Govt.agencies/bodies, Municipal Corporations, reputed not-for-profit organizations etc. for creationof new Large Cultural Spaces such as Auditorium with facilities and infrastructure for stageperformances (dance, drama and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, green rooms,etc. The Scheme component also provides support for restoration, renovation, extension,alteration, up- gradation, modernization of existing cultural facilities (Rabindra Bhawans,Rangshalas) etc. Under this scheme component, the financial assistance for any project willnormally be up to a maximum of Rs. 15.00 crore. Central financial assistance would be 90% ofthe total approved project cost and remaining 10% of the total approved project cost will be borne by the recipient State Govt./NGO or concerned organization for NER Projects and exceptNER, there is 60:40 ratio for central assistant and state share (matching share). 4. SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR PROMOTION OF ARTAND CULTURE: The scheme consists of following three components: i. Scheme for the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in the field of CultureUpto 400 fellowships (200 Junior and 200 Senior) are awarded in a batch year tooutstanding persons in the age group of 25 to 40 years (Jr.) and above 40 years (Sr.) in differentcultural fields @ of Rs. 10,000/- p.m. and 20,000/-p.m. for the period of 2 years for culturalresearch. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments. ii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields Upto 400 Scholarships are awarded in a batch year. Under this scheme financialassistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years foradvanced training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance,Theatre,Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc.@ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years. The Scholarship is released in four equal six monthlyinstallments. iii. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research The purpose of the Scheme Component is to invigorate and revitalize the variousinstitutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in thecountry, by encouraging scholars/ academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions towork on projects of mutual interest. Upto 15 Fellowships (Rs.80,000/- p.m. + ContingencyAllowance) and 25 Scholarships (Rs.50,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) for a maximumperiod of 2 Years. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN ARTISTS The objective of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance maximum uptoRs.6.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars aged 60 years above having annual income notexceeding 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 tohis/her spouse.Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply of part (a&b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †3479 due for answer on 10.08.2026 The number of beneficiaries, including cultural organizations and artists benefitted, across the country including the State of Maharashtra under the sub-schemes of KSVY during last financial year i.e. 2025-26 Sl. Name of the Scheme No. of Cultural No. Organizations/ Artists 1 Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) 2517 2 Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS) 2073 3 Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National 48 Presence 4 Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research 12 5 Scheme For the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in 1733 The Field of Culture 6 Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural 1733 Fields 7. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres 12 8. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities 2 9 Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists 5145 10. Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of 138 Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas 11. Financial Assistance for the Development of Buddhist/Tibetan 704 Culture and Art *****