Lok Sabha Question No. 1744 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes (SPMAA)
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: D.K. Suresh, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1744 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2.3.2020

## Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes (SPMAA).

## 1744. SHRI D.K. SURESH: SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will  the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has introduced a Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes in the country;
- (b)  if so, the details of the Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid and its salient features;
- (c)  the total number of Artists received Pension and Medical Aid by the government during the last three years, Year/State-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  extend  the  benefits  to  more number of Artists like drama Artistes; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) & (b) Yes Sir, the Govt. is implementing a Scheme namely 'Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes' to improve financial and socio-economic status of the  old  aged  artistes  and  scholars  including  various  Folk  Artists  who  have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc., but leading a miserable life or are in penury condition. An amount of maximum Rs. 4000/per month is being given to each beneficiary, out of which minimum Rs. 500/financial  assistance  from  State/UT  Govt.  is  included.  In  case  of  death  of  a beneficiary,  the  financial  assistance  may  be  transferred,  in  the  name  of  the spouse of the beneficiary till life if such request is received in the Ministry from the spouse along with the requisite documents within the period of six months from the date of death of the beneficiary artiste.
- (c) The total number of Artists received Pension and Medical Aid by the government during  the  last  three  years/state  wise  including  Andhra  Pradesh  are  given  at Annexure.
- (d)  & (e) The drama artists are already covered under the Scheme.

## Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  'c'  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question No.1744 to be answered on 2.3.2020 regarding Scheme for Pension & Medical Aid to Artistes (State-wise)

The following are the total no. of beneficiaries of different states.

| Sl. No.   | States           | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   |
|-----------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh   | 312       | 388       | 403       |
| 2.        | Assam            | 34        | 45        | 45        |
| 3.        | Bihar            | 41        | 41        | 41        |
| 4.        | Delhi            | 42        | 42        | 42        |
| 5.        | Goa              | 8         | 8         | 8         |
| 6.        | Gujarat          | 5         | 5         | 5         |
| 7.        | Haryana          | 28        | 30        | 30        |
| 8.        | Himachal Pradesh | 6         | 6         | 6         |
| 9.        | Jammu & Kashmir  | 2         | 2         | 2         |
| 10.       | Jharkhand        | 7         | 15        | 15        |
| 11.       | Karnataka        | 673       | 795       | 834       |
| 12.       | Kerala           | 288       | 411       | 415       |
| 13.       | Madhya Pradesh   | 45        | 63        | 63        |
| 14.       | Maharashtra      | 871       | 1215      | 1216      |
| 15.       | Manipur          | 117       | 134       | 134       |
| 16.       | Meghalaya        | 1         | 1         | 1         |
| 17.       | Mizoram          | 5         | 5         | 5         |
| 18.       | Nagaland         | 2         | 4         | 4         |
| 19.       | Odisha           | 241       | 676       | 696       |
| 20.       | Puducherry       | 6         | 7         | 7         |
| 21.       | Punjab           | 7         | 7         | 7         |
| 22.       | Rajasthan        | 14        | 19        | 19        |
| 23.       | Tamil Nadu       | 229       | 315       | 325       |
| 24.       | Telangana        | 103       | 446       | 447       |
| 25.       | Tripura          | Nil       | 3         | 3         |
| 26.       | Uttar Pradesh    | 201       | 209       | 209       |
| 27.       | Uttarakhand      |           |           |           |
| 28.       | West Bengal      | 11 77     | 11 98     | 11 101    |
|           | Total            | 3376      | 5001      | 5094      |