In a good news for folk artistes, the State will now be sponsoring their musical instruments. With an aim to uplift the arena of folk arts, the government will support rural artistes by issuing financial grants for musical instruments purchases.

About the same, Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, stated, “Cultural troupes active in various regions of the state will be provided musical instruments. To promote cultural activities at the village panchayat level and to revive the guru-shishya tradition, a work plan has been prepared by the culture department to provide musical instruments to artistes.”

According to the scheme, grants will be provided to gram panchayats for musical kits. These include harmoniums, drums, cymbals, anklet bells, castanets, among others.

“If the price of a musical kit is above Rs 30,000, then the department will offer a grant of Rs 15,000 to the panchayat concerned, and the remaining amount will be contributed by the panchayat,” Meshram explained.

In the first cohort of the plan, all district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh will be given the task of selecting 50 panchayats in their respective districts. These spaces will witness cultural events taking place daily. Some 229 villages will also be picked to promote rural tourism.

“Village panchayats that promote bhajan-kirtan troupes, gurus-shishya tradition, street plays, folk music and dance will be given priority in the scheme,” he added.

These aforementioned grants will be transferred directly into the accounts of gram panchayats, who will further be required to purchase musical instruments within a month and maintain them.

Additionally, on the recommendation of DMs, the tourism department and culture council, the folk music troupe that performs the best will be rewarded.