SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir received Rs 6.61 crore in financial support for artists through the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) during the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with 11,446 folk, tribal and classical artists supported during the period, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The figures show that the highest number of artists from JK supported by the ZCCs was 4,794 in 2023-24, when Rs 2.30 crore was provided. The number subsequently stood at 1,800 in 2024-25 and 1,821 in 2025-26, with financial support of Rs 1.17 crore and Rs 1.32 crore respectively.
In 2022-23, 2,012 artists from JK received support amounting to Rs 1.55 crore, while 1,019 artists were supported with Rs 37.64 lakh in 2021-22.
The Union Ministry of Culture said the ZCCs regularly engage folk, tribal and classical artists from their member States for cultural programmes and provide them honorarium, travel and daily allowances, local transportation, boarding and lodging.
The government said seven ZCCs, headquartered at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur, have been established to protect, promote and preserve folk and tribal art and culture.
Apart from ZCC assistance, JK organisations received financial support under the Centre’s cultural schemes. Under the Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant), the number of organisations receiving assistance in the UT increased from seven in 2021-22 to 54 in 2025-26, while the grant rose from Rs 51.48 lakh to Rs 3.99 crore.
Under the Cultural Function and Production Grant, 71 JK organisations received Rs 1.04 crore in 2025-26, compared with 41 organisations receiving Rs 43.63 lakh in 2021-22.
The government said it does not maintain separate data on beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under its various schemes for artists.
It said tribal artists and artisans are provided livelihood opportunities through events including Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs, Shilpgrams/Kalagrams, Rashtriya Shilp Mela, Bharat Parv, Hornbill Festival and various tribal art and craft festivals. These platforms allow artisans to display and sell traditional products directly to visitors while performing artists get opportunities to showcase their traditions before wider audiences.
The Ministry also said its Research and Documentation Scheme supports the preservation of fading visual and performing arts, including music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts, through print and audio-visual documentation. ZCCs are also involved in documenting endangered folk and tribal art forms and recording folklore and oral histories.
