Parliament Question: Promotion of Folk Arts and Cultural Traditions of Western Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1262 ANSWERED ON 27.07.2026 PROMOTION OF FOLK ARTS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF WESTERN ODISHA 1262. SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the details of financial assistance provided by the Government for the promotion of folk art, folk music, folk dance and traditional theatre in Odisha during the last five years, district-wise; (b) whether artists and cultural organisations from Balangir have received grants or financial assistance from the Government during the said period and, if so, the details thereof ; (c) whether the Government proposes to establish dedicated programmes for the promotion of Sambalpuri and other folk traditions of western Odisha at the national level; and (d) the details of the measures taken to improve access of rural artists from Balangir to Central Government schemes and cultural festivals? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a)&(b) Ministry of Culture implements a Central Sector Scheme by the name of ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY). This scheme has several components under which financial assistance is provided directly to eligible artists and cultural organizations working in the field for the promotion of various art forms, music, dance, theatre and literature including folk art, folk music, folk dance and traditional theatre in Odisha. Since KSVY is a Central Sector Scheme, district-wise data are not maintained. However, the financial assistance provided to the State of Odisha under various schemes, during the last five years is provided in Annexure-I. (c) At present, there is no such proposal to establish dedicated programmes for the promotion of Sambalpuri and other folk traditions of western Odisha at the national level. (d) Since, KSVY is a central sector scheme for promotion of arts and culture, no district/region wise data are available. However, the Ministry of Culture has been making continuous efforts to enhance the outreach of its schemes including those from rural and marginalized communities. In this regard, the scheme guidelines and application forms are made available on the Ministry’s official website. In addition, wide publicity is given through advertisements in newspapers, the Ministry’s official website, and its social media platforms, as well as those of the concerned nodal agencies.Annexure – I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a)&(b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1262 answered on 27.07.2026. (Rs. in lakhs) Odisha Name of Scheme / 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Component No. of Amount No. of Amount No. of Amount No. of Amount No. of Amount Beneficiaries Released Beneficiaries Released Beneficiaries Released Beneficiaries Released Beneficiaries Released Award of Scholarships to 75 22.50 25 7.50 97 29.10 71 21.60 141 42.90 young artists in different cultural fields Award of Senior/Junior 108 171.40 89 129.60 90 93.60 83 105.60 167 225.60 Fellowships to Outstanding Artists in the Fields of Culture Scheme for Financial 828 276.95 966 306.77 1460 1063.40 1995 1106.51 2164 1627.37 Assistance for Veteran Artists Financial Assistance for 27 152.16 55 289.20 115 515.29 67 343.87 215 1164.14 Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory grant) Cultural Function and 149 182.99 180 296.88 168 269.71 179 482.92 129 259.99 Production Grant (CFPG) Financial Assistance to 0 0 0 0 1 8.75 2 37.50 3 45.00 Cultural Organizations with National Presence Financial Assistance for 1 4.00 0 0 0 0 2 21.50 2 3.10 Building Grants including Studio Theatres Financial Assistance for 0 0 1 5.00 2 12.00 2 11.00 1 2.50 Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts and Culture *****