Promotion of Folk Arts

The Minister for Culture and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said that the Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) for preservation, promotion and dissemination of the traditional folk arts and culture in the country. The ZCCs have been carrying out various activities and organizing programmes at the national, zonal and local levels in accordance with their aims and objectives.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today she said, Government of India, Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance to artists, including folk artistes, in indigent circumstances under the scheme of “Financial Assistance to Persons distinguished in Letters, Arts and such other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances and their dependents”. Assistance of Rs. 4000/- per month is given to those benefitted under Central Quota and of Rs. 3500/- per month to those covered under Central-State Quota and receiving an assistance of Rs. 500/- per month from the concerned State Government.

The Minister said, in addition, financial assistance is also provided to promising/outstanding artistes, including folk artistes, under the following Schemes:

(i) “Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields”. Under this Scheme 400 scholarships of the value of Rs. 5000/-each p.m. are provided every year for a period of two years.

(ii) “Fellowships to Outstanding persons in the field of Culture”. Under this scheme 200 senior fellowships of the value of Rs. 20,000/- each per month and 200 junior fellowships of the value of Rs. 10,000/- each per month are provided every year for a period of two years.

There is a proposal to set up a Cultural Centre for Gujjars, Bakarwals and Pahari Speaking Communities of Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister added.