Lok Sabha Question No. 5162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Financial Assistance for Professional and Nonprofessional Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban, D.K. Suresh, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROFESSIONAL

Shri Parthiban S.R.:

Shri D.K. Suresh:

Shri Jaswant Singh Bhabhor:

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

- (a) whether there is a provision of pension scheme, scholarship or any other financial assistance for professional and non-professional artists such as writers, folk dancers, poets, litterateurs and others in the field of art and culture;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether the Government is considering to bring such a scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to identify the beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof along with the total number of beneficiaries getting pension under the scheme, State-wise and district- wise; and
- (e) the number of artists from tribal areas benefited therefrom?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) &  (b) Yes sir. The Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme by the name of 'Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to artistes'.  The objective of the Scheme is to improve financial and socio-economic status of the old aged artistes and scholars who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. but are in penury condition.  The amount is  being  given  to  eligible  beneficiaries  (both  professional  and  non-professional artists) who are above 60 years and whose annual income is less than Rs.48000/-.

Further, Ministry of Culture also administers a Scheme namely 'Scheme of Scholarship    & Fellowship for promotion of art and culture' having following three components:-

- (i) 'Award of Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)'-  Scholarship of Rs.5000/- per month is provided to selected beneficiaries in the age group of 18 -25 years, in four equal six monthly installments for a period of 2 years. The candidates should have

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5162 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.22 AND NON-PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS

undergone training under any Guru or Institution for a minimum period of five years. The scholars are selected on the basis of their performance in a personal interview/ interaction before an Expert Committee for Scholarship constituted by the Ministry;

- (ii)  Award  of  Senior/Junior  Fellowships  to  outstanding  persons  in  different  cultural  fields  Senior Fellowship is provided to selected Fellows in the age group of forty years and above in four equal 6 monthly instalments @ Rs.20,000/- p.m  for 02 years for cultural research. Junior Fellowship is provided to selected Fellows in the age group of twenty  five to forty years in four equal 6 monthly installments @ Rs. 10,000/- p.m for 02 years.  Upto 400 Senior & Junior Fellowships are awarded in one batch year. The Fellows are selected by an Expert Committee for Sr/Jr Fellowship constituted by the Ministry;
- (iii)  Award of Tagore National Fellowship for cultural research - The candidates are selected under two categories viz. Tagore National Fellowship and Tagore Research Scholarship to  work  on  cultural  research  by  affiliation  under  different  participating  institutions  in  4 different groups.  The final selection is made by the National Selection Committee (NSC) specially constituted by the Ministry.

Apart  from  the  above,  financial  assistance  is  also  provided  to  professional  and  nonprofessional artists through other schemes such as Repertory Grant, Cultural Function Production Grant, etc.

- (c) Does not arise.
- (d) & (e) Yes Sir. As stated in reply to parts (a) & (b) above, Ministry of Culture administers the 'Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artists', with specific scheme guidelines to identify the beneficiaries. The said scheme is a Central Sector Scheme and no financial assistance is  routed through States/UTs. Also, no District-wise/Area-wise data is maintained by this Ministry. However, the details of beneficiaries who have received financial assistance during the last three years and current year under the Scheme are as follows:-

| Financial Year   | Number of beneficiaries paid*   |
|------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2018-19          | 4120                            |
| 2019-20          | 3188                            |
| 2020-21          | 2000#                           |
| 2021-22          | 3029                            |

#  Number  in  2020-21  decreased  due  to  non  submission  of  requisite  documents  by  the approved pensioners.