Lok Sabha Question No. 2030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Welfare/Pension Schemes for Indigent Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RITA TARAI, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2030

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## WELFARE/PENSION SCHEMES FOR INDIGENT ARTISTS

## 2030. SHRIMATI RITA TARAI: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  new  welfare/pension scheme for cultural artists and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)     whether any financial assistance, grant or pension has been provided to such  artists  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the amount of pension dispersed during the last three years, yearwise;
- (c)      whether the Government proposes to increase the pension amount for the artists under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)        whether  the  Government  has  received  any  representation  seeking  the relaxation in the criteria for the eligibility  regarding  Artists  Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund and if so, the details  thereof  along  with  the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e)    whether the Government proposes to establish any research institute for the development and promotion of the folk arts and culture in the country and if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  said  institute  is likely to be established?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (Dr. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)     No, Madam.

(b)      Yes,  Madam.  As  per  the  extant  guidelines  of  the  Scheme  titled  'Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund' financial assistance from the Government is provided in the form of monthly allowance to the Artistes recommended under the Centre-State Quota on sharing basis between Centre and State Government /UT Administration concerned, with the latter paying a monthly allowance of at least Rs.500/- per month per beneficiary. The monthly allowance contributed by the  Central Government in such cases shall not exceed Rs. 3500/- per month per beneficiary.

As per the Scheme those artistes and traditional scholars shall be eligible for  getting  the  assistance  who  have  made  significant  contribution  to  art  and letters and in their fields etc. and their income (including income of the spouse) must not exceed Rs.4000/- per month and also their age should not be less than 60 years.

The funds under the scheme are sanctioned and released by the Ministry to the Service Provider, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The details of  total amount of funds sanctioned  and  released to LIC for disbursement of artistes pension  under the scheme during the last 3 years are as under:-

| Year    |   Amount of pension dispersed (Rs. In crore) |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14 |                                        15.31 |
| 2014-15 |                                        17.64 |
| 2015-16 |                                        17.78 |

- (c) No, Madam.
- (d) No, Madam.
- (e) No, Madam.