Lok Sabha Question No. 2550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Proposals for Artist’s Pension
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2550

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## PROPOSALS FOR ARTIST'S PENSION

## 2550. SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to State:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  old  artists  and  intellectuals  are leading  a  pitiable  life  in  the  country  especially  in  Maharashtra  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has taken note of the large number of proposals sent by the local  public  representative  requesting  the  Government  to  provide  assistance  to these  old  artists  and  intellectuals  under  'Artist  Pension'  scheme  in  order  to improve their Socio-economic condition during the last three years; and
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  thereon  and  the number of old artists benefited from this scheme till date, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The Government is extremely sensitive to and concerned about the improvement of financial  and  socio-economic  status  of  old  artists  and  intellectuals  in  the  country including Maharashtra.

For  assistance  of  old  artistes  and  intellectuals  the  Government  administers  a Scheme  namely  'Scheme  for  Pension  and  Medical  Aid  to  Artistes'  under  which financial  assistance  in  the  form  of  monthly  pension  is  provided  to  old  artists  and intellectuals of the age of sixty years and above.

- (b) & (c) Yes Madam. A meeting of Expert Committee was convened during 31 st July to 2 nd August,  2017  to  consider  the  applications  received  from  the  artistes  for  award  of pension.  In the said meeting a total of 1625 artistes have been recommended for artistes pension which includes 344 artistes recommended from Maharashtra.

The State/UT wise details of beneficiaries under 'Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes' during the last three years are given at annexure.

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| Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   | Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   | Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   | Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   | Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   | Annexure to the reply of part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2550 to be answered on 12.03.018 on 'Proposal for Artist's Pension'.   |
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| Sl. No.                                                                                                                                         | States                                                                                                                                          | 2013- 14                                                                                                                                        | 2014- 15                                                                                                                                        | 2015- 16                                                                                                                                        | 2016-17                                                                                                                                         |
| 1                                                                                                                                               | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                  | 278                                                                                                                                             | 304                                                                                                                                             | 295                                                                                                                                             | 312                                                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                                                               | Assam                                                                                                                                           | 28                                                                                                                                              | 28                                                                                                                                              | 28                                                                                                                                              | 34                                                                                                                                              |
| 3                                                                                                                                               | Bihar                                                                                                                                           | 38                                                                                                                                              | 38                                                                                                                                              | 38                                                                                                                                              | 41                                                                                                                                              |
| 4                                                                                                                                               | Delhi                                                                                                                                           | 38                                                                                                                                              | 38                                                                                                                                              | 38                                                                                                                                              | 42                                                                                                                                              |
| 5                                                                                                                                               | Goa                                                                                                                                             | 7                                                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                                                               | 8                                                                                                                                               |
| 6                                                                                                                                               | Gujarat                                                                                                                                         | 5                                                                                                                                               | 5                                                                                                                                               | 5                                                                                                                                               | 5                                                                                                                                               |
| 7                                                                                                                                               | Haryana                                                                                                                                         | 28                                                                                                                                              | 28                                                                                                                                              | 28                                                                                                                                              | 28                                                                                                                                              |
| 8                                                                                                                                               | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               |
| 9                                                                                                                                               | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 2                                                                                                                                               |
| 10                                                                                                                                              | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                       | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                                                               |
| 11                                                                                                                                              | Karnataka                                                                                                                                       | 538                                                                                                                                             | 613                                                                                                                                             | 588                                                                                                                                             | 673                                                                                                                                             |
| 12                                                                                                                                              | Kerala                                                                                                                                          | 184                                                                                                                                             | 219                                                                                                                                             | 212                                                                                                                                             | 288                                                                                                                                             |
| 13                                                                                                                                              | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                  | 30                                                                                                                                              | 30                                                                                                                                              | 30                                                                                                                                              | 45                                                                                                                                              |
| 14                                                                                                                                              | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                     | 645                                                                                                                                             | 760                                                                                                                                             | 684                                                                                                                                             | 871                                                                                                                                             |
| 15                                                                                                                                              | Manipur                                                                                                                                         | 84                                                                                                                                              | 109                                                                                                                                             | 97                                                                                                                                              | 117                                                                                                                                             |
| 16                                                                                                                                              | Meghalaya                                                                                                                                       | 1                                                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                                               |
| 17                                                                                                                                              | Mizoram                                                                                                                                         | 4                                                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                                                               | 5                                                                                                                                               |
| 18                                                                                                                                              | Nagaland                                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 2                                                                                                                                               |
| 19                                                                                                                                              | Odisha                                                                                                                                          | 193                                                                                                                                             | 218                                                                                                                                             | 198                                                                                                                                             | 241                                                                                                                                             |
| 20                                                                                                                                              | Puducherry                                                                                                                                      | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                               |
| 21                                                                                                                                              | Punjab                                                                                                                                          | 3                                                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                                                               |
| 22                                                                                                                                              | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                       | 3                                                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                                                               | 14                                                                                                                                              |
| 23                                                                                                                                              | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                      | 135                                                                                                                                             | 185                                                                                                                                             | 165                                                                                                                                             | 229                                                                                                                                             |
| 24                                                                                                                                              | Telangana                                                                                                                                       | 80                                                                                                                                              | 90                                                                                                                                              | 90                                                                                                                                              | 103                                                                                                                                             |
| 25                                                                                                                                              | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                   | 186                                                                                                                                             | 198                                                                                                                                             | 188                                                                                                                                             | 201                                                                                                                                             |
| 26                                                                                                                                              | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                     | 8                                                                                                                                               | 8                                                                                                                                               | 8                                                                                                                                               | 11                                                                                                                                              |
| 27                                                                                                                                              | West Bengal                                                                                                                                     | 50                                                                                                                                              | 60                                                                                                                                              | 60                                                                                                                                              | 77                                                                                                                                              |
| Total                                                                                                                                           | Total                                                                                                                                           | 2584                                                                                                                                            | 2967                                                                                                                                            | 2788                                                                                                                                            | 3376                                                                                                                                            |