Lucknow, June 27 -- Culture and tourism minister Jaiveer Singh said his department was providing musical instruments to every gram panchayat to encourage folk arts.

Speaking at the inauguration of the renovated Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (BSV) here on Friday, Singh said villages were being offered kits, each of which comprised five musical instruments.

"We are trying to encourage more people to take up traditional and folk art forms by providing them with musical instruments. Also, the online registration of urban and rural artists and efforts to give pension to elderly artists are underway," said Singh.

Principal secretary Mukesh Meshram said summer camps were organised by BSV, and 'akademi' wo...