Lok Sabha Question No. 2170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: D.K. Suresh, Sumalatha Ambareesh, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2021

## PENSION AND MEDICAL AID TO ARTISTS.

2170. Shri D.K. Suresh: Shrimati Sumalatha Ambareesh: Shri Kumbakudi Sudhakaran :

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  has  introduced  the  Scheme  of  Financial  Assistance  for Promotion of Art and Culture and if so, the objectives of the scheme along with the target set to achieve under the scheme;
- (b) the total number of beneficiaries who received the financial assistance under  the said scheme in the  form  of  Pension  and  Medical  Aid  to  Artistes  and  if  so,  the  details  for  the  last  three  years; State-wise and year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  scheme  to  provide  pension  and  medical  aid  of artistes and if so, the details thereof along with the fund allocation  and utilization for the scheme Financial Year 2020-21, Financial Year 2019-20 and Financial Year 2018-19; and
- (d) the State/Union Territory-wise details of such artists benefitted under this scheme during  each year of the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  Yes Sir. Ministry of Culture administers the Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture which has five components. The objectives of the components of the Scheme are at Annexure 'A'.  No particular target has been defined under the Scheme apart from the objective. The number of beneficiaries selected depends upon the eligible applications received.
- (b)  The Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes is not covered under the Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture. The Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes is a Central Sector Scheme and no financial assistance is routed through State/UTs. However, a total of 9476 applicants have received financial assistance during the last three years and current

year (till date) under the Scheme of Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes. The year -wise details are as follows:-

| Financial Year   | Number of beneficiaries paid *   |
|------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2018-19          | 4120                             |
| 2019-20          | 3188                             |
| 2020-21          | 2000 #                           |
| 2021-22          | 168                              |

*  Payment of pension is done on submission of requisite documents (Annual Income Certificate and Digital Life Certificate).

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

- (c)  Yes Sir, Ministry of Culture administers a scheme namely 'Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes' for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the old artist and scholars who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. in their active age or are still contributing in the field of arts, letters etc. but due to old age they have to lead a miserable life or are in penury condition.
- (d)  The Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes is a Central Sector Scheme and no financial assistance  is  routed  through  State/UTs.    However,  the  details  of  Artistes  benefitted  under  the above Scheme during each year of the last three years and the current year are at (b) part of the reply.

| Financial Year   |   Fund allocated BE/RE (Rs. in crore) |   Fund Utilized (Rs. in crore) |
|------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2018-19          |                                 25    |                          19.73 |
| 2019-20          |                                 21.15 |                          18.17 |
| 2020-21          |                                 12.36 |                           8.71 |

## OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPONENTS

## (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 GuruShishya Parampara. As per the scheme, support is provided to 1 Guru and maximum 18 Shishyas.

Amount of Assistance - Guru Rs.10000/- p.m. , Shishya - Rs.1000-6000/-p.m.

## (ii) Cultural organizations with National Presence

The objective of  this  scheme  component  is  to provide  support  for  cultural activities  at  Large scale National / International level. The Quantum of assistance under this scheme is up to Rs. 5 Cr.

## (iii) Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)

The objective of  this  scheme  component is  to  provide  financial  support  to  NGOs/  Societies/ Trusts/  Universities  etc.  for  Seminars,  Conference,  Research,  Workshops,  Festivals,  Exhibitions, Symposia,  Production  of  Dance,  Drama-Theatre,  Music  etc.    The  maximum  grants  provided  under CFPG is Rs.5 Lakh (Rs. 20 Lakh under exceptional circumstances)

## (iv) Financial  Assistance  for  the  Preservation  &  Development  of  Cultural  Heritage  of  the Himalayas

The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas  through  research,  training  and  dissemination  through  audio  visual  programmes.  The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.  The quantum of funding is Rs. 10.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakhs in exceptional cases.

## (v) Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Organization

Under this scheme component financial assistance is provided to the voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan  organizations  including  Monasteries  engaged  in  the  propagation  and  scientific development of Buddhist/Tibetan Cultural and tradition and research in related fields. The quantum of funding  under  scheme  component  is  Rs.  30.00  lakhs  per  year  for  an  organization  which  can  be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases.