For protection, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage of the country, Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres [ZCCs] which organize various cultural activities and programes all over the country on regular basis. ZCCs work for promotion, preservation and documentation of different vanishing arts. Ministry of Culture organises many Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavas and a minimum of 42 regional festivals through ZCCs in a year.  Government of India releases Grant-in-aids to all ZCCs for organising these activities. Government is organising various events/programmes for these sections throughout the country through ZCCs to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Government of India also provides grants to State Tribal Research Institutes for promotion of tribal languages, development of bilingual primers for preservation of tribal languages and promote tribal literature.  Further, under the component “Financial Assistance for support to Centres of Excellence” of the scheme “Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRU-ECE)”, financial assistance is provided to reputed Institutions for carrying out research study programmes including documentation of tribal languages with aim to promote tribal culture, achieves, artifacts, customs and traditions of tribal communities.

At present Government of India is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Ministry of Tribal Affairs has resolved to establish nearly 750 Eklavya Model Residential Schools to support the education of tribal students under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Government of India has also sanctioned ten tribal freedom fighters museums in order to acknowledge heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people.

Government has developed searchable digital repository where all research papers, books, reports and documents, folk songs, photos/videos are uploaded. Government has launched ADIGRAMS Portal, a unique portal which monitors physical and financial progress of the grants given by the Ministry to States and can track the actual utilisation of funds.

Government of India has decided to celebrate 15th November of every year as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to mark the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. On the occasion of Birsa Munda Jayanti, presentation of more than 400 tribal artists was made in the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas  program at Babhuni  Rawatsganj Sonbhadra. Along with this, tribal craft exhibition was also organized in the program. In Mirzapur, programs for tribal children of North East region were organized under the indigenous program series, in which more than 100 tribal children participated. Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, presentations were made by the tribal artists of Sonbhadra at NTPC, Obra Sonbhadra, in which 60 artists participate and displayed their art. Presentation was made by 75 tribal artists in Rihand Mahotsav program at NTPC Rihand Sonbhadra. Workshop of Kaharwa dance was organized for tribal children in Chandauli, in which more than 30 children participated.

This reply was given by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North-Eastern Region Shri G Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha today.

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NB/SKT

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