Preservation/Promotion of Folk Culture

The Minister of Culture Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch has said that the Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) having their headquarters at Patiala, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Dimapur, Nagpur and Thanjavur. 

The main objectives of the ZCCs are the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the traditional folk arts and culture of the various States/ Union Territories. 

 In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Smt. Katoch said, the ZCCs endeavor to develop and promote the rich diversity and uniqueness of various arts of the Zone and to upgrade and enrich consciousness of the people about their cultural heritage. 

         

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 implemented  through following schemes:–

i.       National Cultural Exchange Programme

ii.      Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme 

iii.     Young Talented Artistes Scheme

iv.     Documentation of Vanishing Art Forms

v.      Theatre Rejuvenation Scheme

vi.     Shilpagram Activities 

vii.    Loktarang –National Folk Dance Festival and OCTAVE -Festival of the North East.

The Minister said, under the scheme “Documentation of Vanishing Art Forms”, the ZCCs have been documenting various art forms in the form of Audio/Video and Literature. For preserving, promoting and reviving varied Indian arts, including the folk arts, the Ministry of Culture is implementing the following schemes:

 

i.      Scheme of Financial Assistance to Professional Groups and Individuals Engaged for Specified Performing Arts Projects.

ii.   Cultural Functions Grant Scheme.

iii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields.

iv.    Scheme for the Award of Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the Field of Culture.