Global Engagement Scheme, Promoting Indian Folk Arts and Culture

Global Engagement Scheme: The Global Engagement Scheme, initiated by the Ministry of Culture, aims to promote Indian Folk Arts and Culture worldwide. Global Engagement Scheme is also important for UPSC Prelims 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 1- Promotion of Art and Culture).

Global Engagement Scheme in News

Recently, various details about Global Engagement Scheme was given by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region Shri G Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha. Global Engagement Scheme involves organizing Festivals of India in various countries, which feature a diverse range of cultural events such as exhibitions, dance performances, music concerts, theatre shows, film festivals, and yoga events. The festivals also highlight the rich and varied culture of North-East India.

Global Engagement Scheme

Under Global Engagement Scheme, Festivals of India are organized in other countries showcasing folk art and other cultural events as exhibitions, dance, music, theatre, food fest, literary fest, film fest, yoga etc.

• Parent Ministry: Global Engagement Scheme is being implemented by the ministry of Culture.
• Grants Under the Scheme: Under the scheme, Ministry of Culture also gives Grant-in-aid to Indo- Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies for organizing programmes and activities including folk art and other cultural activities for their promotion abroad.
• Components of the Scheme: Global Engagement Scheme has following three components-
  • Festival of India
  • Grant-in-Aid Indian Foreign Cultural Societies Scheme
  • Contribution Grants ( Contribution to Indian Organizations and Delegations under CEP). This component is meant for-
    • Indian Contribution towards membership of International Organizations like ICROM, UNESCO, World Heritage Fund and
    • Facilitate Indian Participation and Hosting of International Meetings.

Promote Indian Arts and Culture From N-E India

The Ministry of Culture offers grants to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies for organizing various programmes and activities that aim to promote the rich and diverse culture of India, including that of North East India, across the globe.

• Additionally, there are several other schemes in place such as the Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre Rejuvenation, Research & Documentation, Shilpgram, and the National Cultural Exchange Programme that are also applicable to North East India.
• The OCTAVE scheme is a special initiative that is specifically designed for the North East region.
• Moreover, the Ministry also conducts the Yuva Sangam programme, which links 11 Higher Education Institutions from North East India with 14 such institutions from other States.
  • As part of this program, college and university students, as well as off-campus youth between the ages of 18 and 30, are taken on exposure visits between the eight North East states and other states.
  • During these visits, the youth are given multidimensional exposure to five broad areas, namely Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology), and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-People Connect).

Promotion of Indian Culture in the Country- Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs)

Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs): Seven Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs) have been set up by the government to protect, preserve and promote various forms of folk art and culture throughout the country.

• Headquarters of these Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs) are located at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
• Key Role: The folk artists from all over India are engaged to perform in the festivals and Programmes organized by these ZCCs regularly in all States/Union Territories of India.
  • Besides, the folk artists are also sent abroad to perform in Festivals of India.
  • Incentives like Dearness allowance, honorarium, board & lodging, local & international travel are provided to these artists by the respective ZCCs and Ministry of Culture.

National Culture Fund (NCF)