THE PARTICULARS OF ITS ORGANISATION, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS & DEPARTMENT

  All the subject pertaining to Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, like preservations of ancient monuments, cultural shows within the country and Internationally, compilation of folk songs, etc. are administered by Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department. The department also organizes many programs like Kavi Sammelans, Bharat Utsavas, Theater Workshops, Fine Arts Exhibition and Workshops every year.

   The activities of this Department are spread over three sections - the Song & Drama Unit, the Archives & Archeology and the State Libraries.

    As a member of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, the unit has given several performances outside the state under National Cultural Exchange Programmes. The unit also has been empanelled with Indian Council of Cultural Relation for programs abroad.

  The Archives and Archeology section of this department, looks after various schemes pertaining to the heritage protection, documentation and preservation of ancient monuments and traditional house and ancient religious institutions in technical collaboration with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH)

   The sole objective of State Libraries is to promote public reading habits, and creating well informed civil societies. The library facilities in the State is much more behind than other States. Persistent effort is being made to expand and popularize this facility in the District and Sub-Division. Some of the development under this sector has been made after 1994, with the establishment of Sub-Divisional Libraries of Chungthang, Pakyong, Ravongla and Soreng. In the year 2002-03 a new Children's Library was also set up in the State Central Library, Gangtok.

  The function of the Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department under allocation of Business rules 2004 are as under (Allocation of Business Rule 2004).

1. Preservation and Consolidation of ancient art and culture.
2. Collection and compilation of folk songs and music, etc.
3. Cultural show arrangement.
4. Preservation and conservation of ancient monuments.
5. Institute of Tibetology  Forestering competitive programs for community development
6. Library attached to the Community Centre.
7. Museums.
8. Archives.
9. Gazetteers.
10. District Libraries attached to District Community Centres.
11. Operation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 (CSS).
12. Work pertaining to renovation / restoration for preservation and conservation of ancient monuments sites/ remains/ruins institutions etc. having historical and religious importance.
13. Operation of ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
14. Public services-Statutory rules of the services with which the Department is concerned.