Promotion of Folk Culture in India

The Indian Minister of Culture Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch has said that a number of steps are being taken by the Government on an ongoing basis to promote folk culture, folk art and artists in the country including in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

These activities are carried out through different institutions, including autonomous organizations of the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Some of the activities being undertaken/supported by various organizations in the country are as follows:

(i) The Anthropological Survey of India undertakes research studies amongst tribal people and is engaged in collection of different art forms and specimens/artifacts for dissemination through its museums and exhibitions.

(ii) Seven Zonal Cultural Centres undertake various activities for the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the folk/traditional arts of the respective zones. (iii) Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts carries out programmes for popularization of culture of India, of which preservation and promotion of languages, folk dances, art and culture of tribes living in different parts of the country is an important and integral part.

(iv) Lalit Kala Akademi is regularly organizing camps/workshops/ seminars/exhibitions/film shows/ lectures all over the country where the folk, tribal and traditional artists are invited in the programmes for preserving the creative and performing arts and culture of the people of all regions.

(v) Sangeet Natak Akademi revives and preserves folk music, folk dance and folk drama in different regions of the country and encourages the development of community music, martial music and other types of music.

(vi) Sahitya Akademi organizes various programmes from time to time to promote literature, traditional arts and culture of the country.

(vii) National School of Drama promotes traditional and regional culture including folk arts through the medium of theatre in various regions of country.

(viii) The Ministry of Textiles has also taken various steps across the country to revive and protect the traditional arts and culture including folk arts of various States under their Craft Demonstration Programme.

(ix) In addition, to preserve, showcase and promote various facets of tribal life relating to their culture, traditions and customs, grants are also provided for organizing tribal festivals at the regional level and at the National Level.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Smt. Katoch said, Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance for establishment and modernization / upgradation of regional and local museums, including such museums that intend to promote indigenous, traditional and folk art forms etc.

She said, Ministry of Tribal Affairs under its Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Research and Training provides Central Assistance on a matching basis (50:50) with State Government to various Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) across the country, for activities including setting up of tribal museums for exhibiting tribal artifacts and preservation of tribal culture.


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