Parliament Question: Safeguarding the Cultural Heritage of the Siddi Community in Gujarat

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2573 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 SAFEGUARDING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE SIDDI COMMUNITY IN GUJARAT 2573. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government in coordination with the State Government of Gujarat and concerned agencies has undertaken any concrete initiatives for the preservation, promotion and inter-generational transmission of the unique art forms, folk music, traditional dances and cultural heritage of the Siddi community in Gujarat and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether dedicated schemes for training, scholarships, cultural infrastructure, digital archiving, national/ international exposure and financial support to Siddi artists are in operation; and (c) the time-bound roadmap proposed to protect and sustain this endangered cultural heritage? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (c) The Government of India has set up West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) at Udaipur (Rajasthan) for the preservation, promotion and inter-generational transmission of the unique art forms, folk music, traditional dances and cultural heritage in its member States including the State of Gujarat. WZCC organizes various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in collaboration with State Governments in its member States including the State of Gujarat. WZCC engages artists from its member States including the artists from Siddi community during various cultural activities & programmes organized by them for which they are paid honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging, local transport etc. There is no such scheme run by the Ministry of Culture for any particular community of artists. However, they are part of the various festivals and programmes organized by WZCC and their performances are recorded digitally amongst other art forms. Besides, Ministry of Culture organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national level through these ZCCs where a large number of folk & tribal artists including the artists from Siddhi community are engaged to showcase their talents. Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry of Culture across the country. The details of cultural activities & programmes organized by WZCC in which artists from Siddi community were invited and expenditure involved therein are at Annexure. 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 aconcerted 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 627 artists/groups under various art forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad. *****ANNEXURE Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2573 for 09.03.2026 Details of cultural activities & programmes organized by WZCC in which artists from Siddi community were invited and expenditure involved therein Sl. Amount Year Name of Programme No. (Rs. in Lakhs) Meri Maati Mera Desh and Har Ghar Tiranga 1 1.20 Programme 2 World Fishering Day 0.36 3 Zonal Sanskriti Mahotsav, Pune 2.01 4 2023-24 Shilpgram Utsav 1.17 5 Lokotsav 1.52 6 Maru Mahotsav 0.78 7 Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, Hyderabad 2.96 8 Daang Darbar 0.72 Total: 10.72 9 All India Governors Conference 1.24 10 Tarang Shakti 1.23 11 Pushkar Fair 0.90 12 Shilpgram Utsav 0.73 13 Camel Festival 1.41 14 2024-25 Lokotsav 2.28 15 Lokanurjan Mela 1.29 16 Daang Darbar 1.14 17 Lokanurjan Mela 1.25 18 Matsay Mahotsav 1.30 19 Kota Mahotsav 1.07 Total: 13.84 20 WAVES 2025 1.13 21 Silvassa Book Fair 2025 0.55 22 Yatra Paschimalap 2.05 23 Nareli Purnima 0.77 24 Varsa Sahyadricha Programme 1.30 25 Lok Rang 1.95 26 2025-26 Pushkar Fair 0.98 27 Vagad Mahotsav 1.02 28 Paschim Bharat Ki Vividhta Ka Utsav 2.99 29 Shilpgram Utsav 1.70 30 National Swadesi Mahotsav 1.08 31 Beneshwar Mela 0.86 32 Aadi Lokotsav 1.49 Total: 17.87