The Government of India is intensifying efforts to preserve, promote and sustain tribal and folk arts along with traditional crafts through a multi layered institutional framework involving cultural bodies, training programmes and nationwide festivals, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha.
The Ministry of Culture, through the Sangeet Natak Akademi, continues to play a central role in safeguarding India’s intangible cultural heritage, including diverse tribal and folk performing traditions. The Akademi conducts extensive research and documentation of such art forms and incorporates them into the National Inventory of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, ensuring both recognition and long term preservation.
As part of its outreach, the Akademi has regularly showcased traditional performances such as Gusadi Dance and Oggu Katha at major national and international events, helping bring regional art forms to wider audiences. It has also launched Kala Deeksha, a national training initiative aimed at reviving endangered performing arts while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to practitioners and artisans.
The Akademi is actively promoting Indian performing arts through digital platforms and international collaborations. Under the Global Dance Overture project, a cultural exchange workshop was organised in partnership with the Kostroma Russian National Ballet. The event featured a blend of Indian and international dance traditions including Russian ballet, Bhangra, Bihu, Koli and Gusadi, strengthening cross cultural engagement and global visibility of Indian folk traditions.
Parallel efforts are being undertaken through a network of seven Zonal Cultural Centres located in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These centres function as key institutions for the promotion of folk arts and crafts by organising regular cultural programmes, festivals and exhibitions across the country.
The Zonal Cultural Centres engage folk artists and artisans in various events and provide them with honorarium, travel allowances, accommodation and other logistical support, thereby enabling sustainable livelihoods. Major festivals organised by these centres include Shilpgram Utsav, Octave, Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, Orange City Craft Mela, Rashtriya Shilp Mela, Salangai Naadam, Purbanchaliya Lok Mahotsav, Hornbill Festival, Lokotsav and Sangai Festival.
At the national level, the Ministry also organises Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs, which serve as large platforms for artists from across the country to showcase their work. These events include exhibitions where artisans display and sell handmade products, directly connecting them with consumers and expanding market opportunities.
In addition to performance based initiatives, the Office of Development Commissioner Handicrafts under the Ministry of Textiles is implementing key schemes such as the National Handicrafts Development Programme and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme. These programmes provide end to end support to artisans, including skill development, infrastructure support, cluster development, marketing assistance, branding, digitisation and research and development.
The schemes are designed to strengthen the entire value chain of handicrafts, from production to global market access, while ensuring financial inclusion and capacity building for artisans.
The Zonal Cultural Centres also undertake research and documentation projects to preserve fading art forms across disciplines such as music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts. These efforts involve audio visual and print documentation in consultation with state cultural departments, ensuring systematic archiving of traditional knowledge.
To ensure continuity of cultural traditions, the centres run the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, under which master artists train younger generations in traditional art forms. This initiative supports inter generational transmission of skills and helps sustain community based cultural practices.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said these combined efforts are aimed at strengthening India’s cultural ecosystem, preserving its diverse heritage and providing economic opportunities to artists and artisans, particularly those belonging to tribal and rural communities.
