Lok Sabha Question No. 3623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Disbursement of Pension to Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## DISBURSEMENT OF PENSION TO ARTISTS

## 3623. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

## Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to ensure the timely disbursement of pension from the Artistes Pension Scheme and if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (b) whether  the  Government  will  address  the  grievances  of  artists  eligible  for pensions  under  the  scheme  regarding  the  inordinate  delay  in  disbursement  of pension and if so, the details thereof along with the details regarding the number of pensioners from Kerala under the scheme;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to simplify the disbursement of pension and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  an  enquiry  regarding  the  delay  in disbursement of pension and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the action taken by the Government to redress the grievances of the pensioners; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to process the application for pension in a time bound manner and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) The disbursement of pension under the Artists Pension Scheme depends upon submission of all the requisite documents by the beneficiaries selected under the Scheme. Once all the requisite documents are submitted by the beneficiaries, all efforts are made to disburse the pension expeditiously.
- (b)&(e) The grievances, if any, received under the scheme are disposed off expeditiously  to ensure that the beneficiaries do not face any problem regarding submission of requisite  documents  and  thus  enabling  the  Ministry    to  disburse pension  in  a  timely  manner.  A  dedicated  helpline  has  also  been  provided  for facilitating  the  beneficiaries  in  resolution  of  such  problems.  The  amount  of pension released to artists in Kerala during last three years as given below:-

(in Lakhs)

| FY 2018-19          | FY 2018-19       | FY 2019-20          | FY 2019-20       | FY 2020-21          | FY 2020-21       |
|---------------------|------------------|---------------------|------------------|---------------------|------------------|
| Nos. of Beneficiary | Amount Disbursed | Nos. of Beneficiary | Amount Disbursed | Nos. of Beneficiary | Amount Disbursed |
| 202                 | 71.43            | 181                 | 58.40            | 96                  | 41.30            |

- (c)&(d)  It  has  been  the  constant  endeavor  of  the  Government  to  make  continuous efforts to ensure  timely disbursement  of  pension to the beneficiaries by simplifying the procedures as far as possible.
- (f)     The consideration of applications under the scheme depends upon various factors such as, scrutiny of applications for its completeness as per the provisions of the scheme  and  their  consideration  by  a  duly  constituted  Expert  Committee.  All efforts  are  made  to  complete  these  processes  timely  and  to  ensure  that  the applications received under the scheme are processed expeditiously.