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FAQ
Q1. Why the NCF?
Ans - The heritage of a community is essentially its resource for growth - a threshold for a forward movement even if that is rather evolutionary in character. It not only constitutes the spiritual resource of the community as also of individuals it is an essential source of an identity deeply rooted in the past.
India has witnessed, in the millennia that are past, coming together of peoples from various places, of distinct racial stocks, of different religions, of diverse cultures and ideas, and this interactive togetherness has created a unique plurality - plurality of religions, of languages, of dress, of architecture - that yet draws upon and strengthens the same resource that has acquired eternality namely the `Indianness', quintessentially. For the achievement of this Indianness in the fullest, the unique Indian plurality must continue to blossom unfettered and unhindered. And that will be possible only if these diversities the totality of which constitutes the Indian existence - the very many `heritages' of India - must have for them legitimate space and freedom not only to survive but also to grow and evolve as living cultures. That is why the Constitution of India guarantees cultural rights of the citizens in the following terms: "Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same". The Constitution further provides that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
But in India today, as indeed throughout the world, the pace of change poses unprecedented threats to the continuity of that cultural heritage. Aware of these threats, societies everywhere are expressing a growing demand for cultural preservation and renewal. In so doing they recognise the need to reinvigorate their own cultural identity and creativity. They recognize also that expenditures on culture are not a drain on the economy but a contribution to human and social development. Yet this social demand for culture greatly outstrips the resources available to government alone. In many countries, industrialised and developing alike, new funding mechanisms are being devised, based on the dual recognition that cultural activities can and should be as rationally managed and administered as other development programmes and that new alliances must be forged between the public and private sector, between the state and civil society. Also, at a time when the marketplace reigns supreme, it is apparent that market process often fails to deliver a socially optimal level of goods and services in the culture sector and that cultural support delivered imaginatively in a market system is entirely consistent with pursuit of economic efficiency.
The time has come, therefore, to make appropriate adjustments and innovations in the patterns of cultural funding in India. Since independence, many efforts have been made both at the governmental and non-governmental levels, to foster contemporary cultural life, as well as to preserve the rich legacy handed down from our past. But these efforts have been dispersed, often piecemeal. A number of governmental initiatives have been marred by administrative rigidity and a top-down approach that has done little to promote cultural freedom. Above all, the potential of many groups and communities particularly at the grassroots level, has not been realised for lack of seed funding to catalyse the ingenuity and creative energy of our people.
The NCF as constituted is expected to remedy this situation and to innovate effectively on the Indian culture scene. The importance of this effort is not only in what it brings in materially but in the vision, that it carries, that it will be the society that will, to a large extent, provide for, financially, for its cultural aspirations.
Q. 2 How is NCF different from other Governmental programmes and activities?
Ans -a) Constitutes an important innovation, rather a basic departure from the implementational strategies of the Government hitherto which presumed that the onus was necessarily and primarily on the Government to provide administrative and financial wherewithal for culture-related endeavours in the country.
b) Accepts institutions and individuals as equal partners of the Government in the management of the cultural scenario in the country.
c) Constitutes an important initiative for enabling institutions and public at large to contribute to culture-related endeavours, for forging meaningful inter-institution partnerships, for mobilising extra budgetary resources for culture, and for heightening awareness that culture indeed constitutes a crucial input to the overall process of development.
d) Will help overcoming the resource crunch in relation to culture-related endeavours.
Q. 3 Where the incomes from the ncf will be applied?
Ans - The incomes from the NCF will be utilised for funding a variety of activities relatable to the field of culture - culture as understood in its holistic connotations. It will thus be available for the preservation and conservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage; for the training and development of a cadre of specialists and cultural administrators; for innovations and experiments in arts; for documentation of cultural expressions and forms that have lost their relevance in contemporary scenario and are either fading out or facing extinction; for undertaking research such as culture in its interface with the other sectors of development; creation of institutions and facilities such as galleries and museums and strengthening of existing ones; for international cultural cooperation which may promote the development of indigenous expertise and human resource; and even for low interest or interest free loans for culture related endeavours covered as objects of the Fund.
Q.4 How Will The NCF Be Administered And Managed?
Ans -The NCF is managed and administered by a council to decide the policies and an Executive Committee – to actualize those policies. The Council is chaired by the Union Minister of Tourism & Culture and has a maximum strength of 24 including both the Chairman and Member Secretary, A team of 19 members represent various fields including corporate sector, private foundations and not-for-profit voluntary organizations. The purpose for this structure is to increase non-government representation in the decision making process.
Q.5 What does the ncf expect?
Ans -The NCF gets its initial impetus through a corpus contribution by the Government of India, Department of Culture of Rs.19.5 crores of which Rs.2 crore is being made available since the financial year 1996-97. It expects contributions from the State Governments, statutory bodies, private and corporate sectors, trusts, societies, individuals and even from the United Nations and its associated bodies.
Contributions can be activity-specific. That means it would be possible for a donor to the NCF to indicate a project alongwith any specific location/ aspect for funding and also the agency for the execution of the project while making donations to the NCF subject to general policy guidelines and rules, if any, in this behalf.
Q.6 Why the NCF is a credible and autonomous channel of funds?
Ans -In the NCF, a mechanism stands created at the apex level that carries a built-in accountability both towards the Indian Parliament and the donors for the activities commissioned under its aegis. The NCF will be, as mentioned, managed professionally whereon the say of the non-governmental representatives will be decisive. In a larger sense the NCF constitutes a point of overall liberalization policy in the domain of culture.
Q.7 Who Can Benefit From The NCF?
Ans -Any State Government or voluntary organisation with a known record of service in the field of art and culture and registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (21 of 1860) or registered as a Public Trust at least for the last two years will be eligible for applying for financial assistance from the NCF for a specific project. Individuals are not entitled to financial assistance under this scheme. The requests will be entertained only in the proforma prescribed which appears at Appendix(Collaboration Form).
Q.8 Exemption of donations under the Income tax act
Ans -. Since the NCF has been set up under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890, donations / contributions to it will be eligible for 100% tax deduction under Section 80 G(2) of the Income Tax Act 1961 to the limits and conditions prescribed in the said Section and prescribed rules.
Q.9 Where To Send The Donation ?
Ans -The donation to NCF may be sent to the Member Secretary at the following address through cheques/bank drafts payable to “The National Culture Fund, India”.
The Member Secretary National Culture Fund Room No. 320 , C wing Shastri Bhawan New Delhi-110001 Tel No. 091-11-3389845
Smt. Sudha Murty
A businesswoman, educator, author and philanthropist who is the chairperson of Murty Foundation Bengaluru. Founded several orphanages, participated in rural development efforts, and supported the movement to provide all Karnataka government schools with computer and library facilities
She has been awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, Rajyaprashasti Award by the Karnataka Government, Attimabbe Award by the Government of Karnataka , Lifetime Achievement Award by Crossword Books and many others.
Shri. Harshavardhan Neotia
He is the chairman of the Ambuja Neotia Group, a conglomerate headquartered in Kolkata. He is a Harvard School Alumni and founder of first joint sector company in India.
Received Padma Shri in 1999 for his outstanding initiative in the field of social housing. Awarded with YPO Legacy of Honour Award.
Spearheaded many business ventures in Real estate , healthcare and many others
Dr. Kalpana Saroj
An entrepreneur and a TEDx speaker. She is the Chairperson of Kamani Tubes in Mumbai, India. She bought the distressed assets of Kamani Tubes Company and successfully steered the company back to profitability. Spearheaded entrepreneur ventures in Film production and Real estate.
Felicitated with Savitri Bai Phule Award.
Formed an organization for unemployed youth in Maharashtra Established Rashtriya Ekta Yuva Manch.
Shri. Sudhir Mehta
Chairman & Managing Director of Pinnacle Industries Ltd. India‘s largest commercial vehicle seating and interiors company. The University of Chicago Alumni also is a founder to EKA, a commercial electric vehicles & technology Company.
Awarded Maharashtra Bal Stambh, Successful Entrepreneur Award, 2022 and Pride of Pune.
Served as Director on the Board / Member to Various Institutes, Planning committee and Governing councils.
Sh. A Narayana Raju
Managing Director, NCC Urban Infrastructure Ltd.
Education: B.E
Sh. Alluri Narayana S. Raju has vast experience spanning 28 years in the construction industry. He has been a Director of NCC Urban Infrastructure Limited since December 08, 2005. He serves as a Director of NCC Vizag Urban Infrastructure Ltd., NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd., Western UP Tollway Ltd. and Himachal Sorang Power Pvt. Ltd. He served as Wholetime Director/ Executive Director of NCC Limited until March 31, 2007.
Ms. Srividya Gunampalli
Vice-Chairperson of G Pulla Reddy Charities Trust and G Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science (For Women)
Graduate degree in Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Hyderabad, Telangana & MBA from ICFAI
Shri. Milind Kamble
He is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. DICCI mandates its members to provide half of the jobs on offer in their enterprises to Dalits and has programmes for education and training support for Dalits. The organisation has five chapters and 500 members.
He was graduated in engineering and launched a construction company, Fortune Construction Company.
Received Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in 2013 for his contribution to the fields of trade and industry.
Shri. Vishad P. Mafatlal
He is the Executive Chairman of Navin Fluorine International Limited (NFIL- part of Padmanabh Mafatlal Group public listed ).He is the Wharton School Alumni with the successful business history in Textiles, inorganic and speciality Chemicals , refrigerant gases etc.
He is also the Chairman of Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust (est. 1968), a Social and Charitable Trust in M.P. / U.P. providing services in the areas of health and eye care, education, agriculture and rural development to the under privileged masses.
Shri. P. Murali
He is an astute and versatile and professional offering a rich mixture of experience and success in several businesses. At present he is the Managing Director, Green Signal Bio Pharma Private Limited.
A competent professional with over 19 years of rich & extensive experience in IT Industry and Pharma Production, Installation & Commissioning, Quality Management & Man Management. International experience in four different countries with focus of developing and bringing new projects to market, growing businesses and building relationships.
Represented India at several International Health Summits. Coordinating developing and promoting health and eco tourism in India through partnership in Dubai, London and India.
Dr. Chinmay Pandya
He is the Pro Vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya University, Haridwar. Occupies multiple roles in the life of his University and beyond. As an Editor of the Dev Sanskriti, an Interdisciplinary International Journal that addresses a abroad range of Indian intellectual interests including Vedic philosophy, culture, psychology, communication, education, Ayurveda, Indian and Eastern studies and religious pedagogies.
To name few association, he is Governing Body of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Member of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH); Chairman of Asia’s first and only Center for Baltic Culture and Studies and South Asian Institute of Peace and Reconciliation.
Smt. Oorvasi Gandhi
Ms. Oorvasi Gandhi, has been working as Social activist for Transgenders and women empowerment since 20 years in Tamilnadu and South India region.
She has worked with many well known organisations such as Arogyam, Sakhee Foundation, Melon Melinda Gates foundation, State Government programs. She has also worked as Community Advisor for many skill development, empowerment, society and medical awareness programs especially for Transgenders and Women.
Despite having faced many social, economical and family related issues , she put her best efforts towards the community’s well being & protection of Transgender Rights, which were appreciated and recognized.
Smt. Lakhimi Baruah
She is an Indian banker, social worker and founder and Managing Director of Assam’s first women run Co-operative bank Konoklata Mahila Urban Cooperative bank for women. She also has an identity as a social worker raising hope among women. Her contribution to the society for empowering women with the unique and exemplary idea of an All Women Bank has been recognized by both National & International media, Social and other organizations. For her work the society Assam XahityaXabha gave her the title “KARMASHREE” in the year 2006.
She has been Awarded with Padma Shri award 2021 In recognition of her efforts to financially empower the Assamese women. Felicitated with North East Excellence award 2017 by Telegraph, ABP Group and many others.
Ms. Sheela Balaji
She is the Managing Trustee of AIM for Seva and Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET). She is also the Chairperson & Managing Trustee of Arsha Vidya Research & Publication Trust.
She has primarily directed her efforts towards providing rural children and youth access to a high quality learning experience at the grassroots level, focusing on societal transformation through the establishment of various educational institutions
Received the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017’ from the Ministry of Women & Child Development for exceptional leadership skills and exemplary achievements. This is the highest civilian honour
Smt. Veena Sikri
She is a Professor, Ford Foundation Chair, Bangladesh Studies Programme, and Convener, South Asia Women's Network (SWAN), She was a visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute of South East Asian Studies, Singapore, and Visiting Professor and Honorary Adviser, for Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia .
Some of the books published :
"Contemporarising Tagore and the World", published in February 2013
"The Geopolitics of Bangladesh" published in the November 2009
"India-Bangladesh Relations : The Way Ahead" published in India Quarterly, the Journal of the ICWA
Shri. Jangchup Choeden
He is the Executive Director of Geluk International Foundation, a Charity Organisation NGO, and a freelance Dharma teacher.
He is holding various positions as –
Deputy Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Delhi
Vice President, Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT), Delhi
Sangha Advisor, Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Advisor, Sri Lankan and Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society (SLTBBS), Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trustee at Pipal Tree, Bangalore based social, environmental and cultural organization.
Shri. Anurag Singhal
He is a young industrialist driven by social purpose. He negotiates his time between his businesses and his passion towards reforming Indian education.
He is the Managing Director of The Doon Valley Public School(s) in Deoband & Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. His organisations, Osho Industries and Osho Packaging are one of the leading players in the packaging industry in India.
An alumnus of the IIM Ahmedabad. He also holds a diploma in ‘Leadership and Management’ from Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai.
Previously he also worked with Infosys as a software engineer. He is closely and directly working with several Government Schools and Vidya Bharati schools in Uttar Pradesh.
Shri Jaithirth Rao
Shri Jerry Rao is an Indian businessman and entrepreneur. He has rich and diversified experience in international banking and in IT services. He has been a promoter of companies in financing for affordable housing
An alumni of IIM and IIT, has involvement in many not-for-profit organization: Member of the Managing Committee of the Indian Banking Association/ Chairman to NASSCOM foundation and India Foundation for the Arts. and many others
Currently he is on the Governing Board of the Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai and has been involved in teaching at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Fostiima Business School and Indica Academy.
Sh. Subba Reddy
Managing director of VAMSIRAM BUILDERS PRIVATE LIMITED –A Private Limited Company,Telangana
Sh. Kavesh Talwar
CEO of Talwar constructions & farmhouse, chain of Hotels all over India.