Scheme for Tagore Cultural Complexes

For about 15 years (1992-2007), Ministry of Culture was operating a scheme for setting up of Multipurpose Cultural Complexes (MPCCs), with a view to support State-sponsored bodies in setting up integrated cultural complexes for fostering activities in various cultural fields like music, dance, drama, literature, fine arts, etc. In all, about 50 MPCCs were sanctioned in different States/ UTs, with Central assistance ranging from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2.5 crores for each project.

As part of the Commemoration of Tagore’s 150th Birth Anniversary, it has been decided to revamp the MPCC Scheme and replace it with an improved scheme, to be known as the Scheme for Tagore Cultural Complexes. Besides facilitating the setting up of new cultural complexes of varying scale, in big and small towns, the newly-introduced scheme will support the upgradation, modernization and modification into state-of-the-art cultural complexes, of the existing Rabindra ‘Bhawans’, ‘Manchas’, ‘Sadans’, ‘Rangshalas’ and other Cultural Centres created across the country as part of a nation-wide programme that was launched on the occasion of Centenary Celebrations of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in 1961.

Under this new scheme, Central Government will support not only those projects that are taken up by the State Governments and Government-sponsored bodies, but also those that are promoted by universities and reputed not-for-profit organizations. Central Government’s support will be upto 60% of the project cost. The Ministry of Culture has already received some proposals from State Governments for upgradation of the existing Rabindra auditoria and those will now be processed under this scheme for Tagore Cultural Complexes.

The kind of organizations and their projects the Scheme for Tagore Cultural Complexes will cover are listed below:

Eligible projects

1. New Tagore Cultural Complexes (Every project must include an auditorium, except in the case of district/ municipal complexes which may instead have a mini auditorium or open-air amphitheatre or an improvised Manch). 
2. Renovation, restoration, upgradation, modernization of existing Rabindra Bhawans, MPCCs and other Auditoria/ Cultural Complexes.
3. Completion of ongoing/ approved MPCC projects.

Eligible organizations

1. State Governments/ UT Administrations;
2. Bodies set up or sponsored by State Governments/ UT Administrations;
3. Bodies set up or sponsored by the Central Government or organizations under it;
4. Universities, Municipal Corporations and other Government-approved agencies; and
5. Reputed not-for-profit organizations that are capable of setting up and operating the project, arranging 40% of the project cost as their matching share and meeting the recurring costs, provided they have been inspected and recommended by an appropriate agency of the Central Government or the concerned State Government/ UT Administration.

 Courtesy :PIB