The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) is working in the field of linking education with culture under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Established in 1979, pioneered by Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, it functions as an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India. At the philosophical core of the
CCRT lies a commitment to holistic education, encompassing the cognitive, emotional and spiritual development of children. The CCRT has its headquarters in New Delhi and four Regional Centres at Udaipur in the west, Hyderabad in the south, Guwahati in the north-east and Damoh in the Central India to facilitate the widespread dissemination of Indian art and culture. The CCRT revitalizes the education system by creating an understanding and awareness among teachers, students and educational administrators about the plurality of the regional cultures of India and integrating this knowledge with education. CCRT’s main thrust is to make variety of training programmes for in-service teachers, teacher educators, educational administrators and students throughout the country. It also organizes special training programmes for the physically and mentally challenged children. The training programmes provide an understanding and appreciation of the philosophy, aesthetics and beauty inherent in Indian art and culture and focus on formulating methodologies for incorporating a cultural component in curriculum teaching. The role of culture in science and technology, housing, agriculture, sports i.e. in all aspects of development and growth is emphasised. Main Functions.
• Organizes theoretical and theme based academic programmes on Indian art and culture for teachers and students.
• Conducts Workshops to provide practical training and knowledge in crafts to be incorporated in school curriculum. Various art activities like drama, music, narrative art forms, classical dances, etc. are organized to create an awareness of the regional variations and richness of cultural expressions of our country.
• Organizes various educational activities for school students, teachers and children belonging to governmental and non-governmental organizations under its Extension Services and Community Feedback Programme, to create an awareness of the need for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage.
• Collects and develops a library of resources in the form of scripts, digital photographs, audio and video recordings and films with the objective of producing culturally-oriented educational aids to encourage the art and craft forms of rural India and their revival.
• Prepares publications and other audio-visual material which attempt to provide an understanding and appreciation of the different aspects of Indian art and culture.
• Implements Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme for providing facilities to young talented children in the 10-14 age group to study one or the other art form. 620 scholarships are awarded yearly.
• The CCRT also implements some other important policies of the Ministry of Culture, e.g., awarding 400 Senior Scholarships, 200 each Junior and Senior Fellowships focusing on “in-depth study/ research” in various facets of culture. These include New Emerging Areas of Cultural Studies.
• The CCRT has started organizing training programmes on arts management under National Institute of Culture and Heritage Management (NICHM) Scheme, a new initiative of Ministry of Culture, Govt.of India.
• The CCRT, recently, has been assigned the implementation of the Scheme, "Cultural Heritage Youth Leadership Programme"(CHYLP) by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. The scheme aims at promotion of social values and community engagement amongst the youth of the Country.
