New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) The government has earmarked Rs.700 crore for the ministry of culture with more allocations for zonal cultural centres, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, the National School of Drama, the Asiatic Society, the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Archaeological Survey of India.

In the 2009-10 budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in parliament Monday, Rs.36.1 crore has been earmarked for the building projects of attached and subordinate offices of the ministry of culture.

The amount of Rs.700 crore is a small increase over Rs.595 crore in 2008-09.

The spotlight will be on the promotion of art and culture, archaeology, archives and museums with a budgetary allocation of Rs 373.35 crore, said the projections for the ministry of culture.

The Asiatic Society of Kolkata, which promotes Asian culture and arts, has been earmarked Rs.28.6 crore in 2009-2010, a nearly Rs.18 crore increase from the Rs.9.26 crore earmarked in 2008-2009.

The Archaeological Survey of India has received an additional bounty of nearly Rs.30 crore over 2008-2009. The department has been earmarked Rs.378.70 crore compared to Rs.336.3 crore in 2008-2009.

“The increased outlays aim at employment generation, conservation, new acquisitions and expansion in various departments,” a senior culture department official said.