Lok Sabha Question No. 1130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Financial Assistance for Theatre and Drama Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Harish Dwivedi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1130 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEATRE AND DRAMA ARTISTS

## 1130: SHRI HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of schemes being run by the Government for the theatre and drama artists in the country;
- (b)      the details of financial aid provided to each of the States/Union territories under the aforesaid schemes being run by the Government for these artists during the previous years; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for revival of the traditional drama and theatres in the Country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a)      The Ministry of Culture implements the following schemes in various cultural fields including the theatre and drama artists in the country:-
- (i)   Repertory Grant.
- (ii)  Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence
- (iii) Financial Assistance for Building Grant including Studio Theatre;
- (iv) Financial Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes;
- (v)  Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities;
- (vi)  Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes.
- (vii) Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG).
- (viii) Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes in the Fields of Culture
- (xi)  Award of Scholarships to young artists in different cultural fields
- (x) Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research Component

The details in respect of above mentioned schemes are at Annexure-I.

- (b) The  above  scheme/scheme  components  are  Central  Sector  Schemes  under  which  financial assistance is being released to NGOs/ Individual / Institutions / autonomous organizations etc. directly and not through States/UTs, hence no State/UT-wise allocation of funds is made for the above schemes/scheme components.
- (c)        To  promote  and  revive  cultural  traditions,  folk  arts,  literatures,  songs  including  traditional drama and theatres in the country, various cultural organizations set up by the Government of India viz Sangeet Natak Akademi, National School of Drama, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi,  Zonal  Cultural Centers etc. which  organize  various cultural activities and programmes to preserve these traditional art forms on regular basis. Annual grant-in-aid is provided  to  all  these  organizations  by  the  Government  of  India  for  carrying  out  these activities.

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## DETAILS  OF  SCHEMES  BEING  RUN  BY  THE  GOVERNMENT  FOR  THE  THEATRE AND DRAMA ARTISTS

## i. Repertory Grant

The objective of Repertory Grant Scheme Component is to provide financial support for all genres  of  performing  arts  activities  like  dramatic  groups,  theatre  groups,  music  ensembles, children theatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on regular basis in line with Guru-Shishya Parampara.

## ii. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence

The objective of this scheme component is to provide support for cultural activities at Large scale National / International level.

## iii. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres

The objective of the Building Grant Scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc.  for creation of Cultural  infrastructure  (i.e.  studio  theatre,  auditorium,  rehearsal  hall,  classroom  etc.)  and provision of facilities like electrical, air conditioning, acoustics, light and sound systems etc.

## iv. Financial Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes(TCC)

The  aim  of  the  scheme  component  is  to  provide  financial  support  to  NGO,  Trust, Societies,  Govt.  Sponsored  bodies,  State  /  UT  Govt.  University,  Central/State  Govt. agencies/bodies, Municipal  Corporations,  reputed not-for-profit organizations etc. for creation of new Large Cultural Spaces such as Auditorium with facilities and infrastructure for stage performances (dance, drama and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, green rooms, etc.

## v. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities

The  objective  of  sub-component  is  to  provide  financial  assistance  to  all  eligible organizations  for  creation  of  assets  for  enhancing  the  audio-visual  spectacle  for  allied cultural  activities  to  give  firsthand  experience  of  live  performances  on  regular  basis  and during festivals in open/closed areas/spaces.

## vi. Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes

The objectives of this Scheme is to provide a pension of Rs.4.000/- p.m. to the old artistes  and  scholars  (not  less  than  the  age  of  60  years  and  annual  income  not  exceeding Rs.48,000/- p.a.) who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc.  but    are  now  living  in  penury  condition.    The  Scheme  has  also  provision  to  provide medical  aid  facility  to  these  Artistes  and  his/her  spouse  by  covering  them  under  a convenient and affordable Health Insurance Scheme of the Government.

## vii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)

The Scheme covers all 'not-for-profit' organizations, NGOs, Societies, Trusts, Universities by giving financial assistance for conduct of Festivals, Seminars, Function, Conference, Research, Workshops, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, DramaTheatre, Music etc. and small research projects on different aspects of Indian Culture. The Organization should have been functioning and registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860), Trusts Act, Companies Act or any Central or State Act for at least three years. Grant is given upto Rs. 5.00 lakhs under the scheme. However the quantum of assistance can be increased upto 20.00 lakhs in case of exceptionally deserving project proposals with the approval of HCM

## viii.

- Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes in the Fields of Culture Senior/ Junior Fellowships are awarded to outstanding persons in the age group of 25 to 40 years (Jr.) and above 40 years (Sr.) in different cultural fields @ of Rs. 10,000/- p.m. and  20,000/-p.m.  respectively  for  the  period  of  2  years  for  cultural  research.  Online applications are invited and selection is made by an expert committee constituted for this purpose. Upto 400 fellowships (200 Junior and 200 Senior) are awarded in a batch year.

## ix. Award of Scholarships to young artists in different cultural fields

Under this scheme financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years for advanced training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years. Online applications are invited and selection is made by an expert committee constituted for this purpose. Upto 400 Scholarships are awarded in a batch year.

## x. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research Component

The  Scheme  has  been  introduced  in  order  to  invigorate  and  revitalise  the  various institutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in the  country,  by  encouraging  scholars/  academicians  to  affiliate  themselves  with  these institutions to work on projects of mutual interest. With a view to infuse fresh knowledge capital  into  the  institutions,  the  scheme  expects  these  scholars/academicians  to  select specific resources of the institutions to take up projects and research work that are related to the main objectives of these institutions and to enrich them with a new creative edge and academic  excellence.  Tagore  fellows  are  paid  an  honorarium  @  Rs.  80,000/-  p.m.  plus contingencies  and  Tagore  Scholars  are  paid  Rs.  50,000/-  p.m.  as  honorarium  plus contingencies. Fellows/Scholars are affiliated to the Participating Institutions given in the scheme.