housing, agriculture, sports, etc. It creates awareness amongst students and teachers of their role
in solving environmental pollution problems and conservation and preservation of the natural
and cultural heritage.
CCRT organizes workshops on drama, music, narrative art forms, etc. Teachers are
encouraged to develop programmes in which the art form can be profitably utilized to teach
educational curriculum. It organizes educational tours to monuments, museums, art galleries,
craft centres, zoological parks and gardens, camps on conservation of natural and cultural
heritage, camps on learning crafts using low cost locally available resources, lectures and
demonstrations by artists and experts on various art forms, demonstrations by artists and craft
persons in schools. They emphasize on intellectual and aesthetic development of the students.
Over the years, CCRT has been collecting scripts, colour slides, photographs, audio and
video recordings and films. Each year it aims to revive and encourage the art and crafts forms of
rural India. It also prepares publications, to provide an understanding and appreciation of aspects
of Indian art and culture. CCRT implements the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme,
which provides scholarships to outstanding children in the age group of 10 to 14 years, studying
either in recognized schools or belonging to families practising traditional performing or other
arts to develop their talent in various cultural fields particularly in rare art forms. The
scholarships continue till the age of 20 years or the first year of a University degree. The Scheme
for “Award of Scholarships to Young Artistes (SYA) in Different Cultural Fields” is
implemented under which maximum 400 scholarships are provided in the age group of 18 to 25
years in the field of Indian classical music, classical dances, light classical music, theatre, Visual
Arts, Folk/Traditional and Indigenous Arts.
Project Sanskriti is an initiative of Ministry of Culture in developing/establishing of
interpretation centres in educational institutions in Varanasi. CCRT has also instituted Teachers’
Award to selected teachers for their outstanding work in education and culture. The award carries
a citation, a plaque and a cash price of ₹ 25,000.
Relevant Website: www.ccrtindia.gov.in
Zonal Cultural Centres
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) aim to arouse awareness of the local culture and to show
how these merge into zonal identities and eventually into the rich diversity of India’s composite
culture. These centres have already established themselves as premier agencies in the field of
promotion, preservation and dissemination of culture in the entire country. They promote
performing arts by significant contribution in literary and visual arts. The seven Zonal Centres
were established under this scheme during 1985-86 at Patiala, Kolkata, Thanjavur, Udaipur,
Allahabad, Dimapur and Nagpur. The participation of states in more than one Zonal Cultural
Centre according to their cultural linkage is a special feature of the composition of the Zonal
Centres. Master craftsmen and artisans from various ZCCs participate in craft fairs.
Documentation of various rare folk and tribal art forms is one of the main thrust areas of the
ZCCs. Under the National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP), exchanges of artists,
musicologists, performers and scholars between different regions within the country take place.
It has been extremely useful in promoting awareness of different tribal/folk art forms in different
parts of the country. A scheme of theatre rejuvenation provides an opportunity to students, actors
artists, directors and writers to perform on a common platform. Guru Shishya Parampara has
been introduced to promote new talents. The ZCCs promote craftsmen through Shilpgrams. The