Lok Sabha Question No. 117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Impact of Covid-19 on Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil, Thomas Chazhikadan

- (a) & (b) No Sir,

(c) & (d) Sangeet Natak Akademi an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture has an Artist Aid fund at its disposal  under  which  financial assistance  upto  Rs.  1.50  lakhs in  a  financial  year  is  provided  to  the  fellows  and awardees of Sangeet Natak Akademi as well as non awardees under certain circumstances. An advisory was issued to all the organisations namely Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, National School of Drama, Centre for Cultural  Resources  and Training,  Indira  Gandhi  National  Centre  for  the  Arts  and  Kalakshetra Foundation as well as Zonal Cultural Centre. However the Sangeet Natak Akademi being national academy of music, dance and drama have organized the following programmes during the current pandemic. A number of artists from various genres have been benefitted by these virtual activities.

Antrang: The Akademi organizes Webinar on every Friday with its Awardees in the field of music, dance, drama, folk & tribal arts and puppetry. As on date, the Folk & Tribal Section of the Akademi has successfully organized 11 webinar by  which  20  artists  have  monetary  benefited.  An  amount  of  Rs.  3  lakh  approx  has  been  released  to  the participants.

Kaladhar: Kaladhar is also a new initiative of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and is similar to Antarang Series. Under the series Akademi presents its Yuva Awardees where they can share their nurturing life and experiences with the viewers. As on date, the Folk & Tribal Section of the Akademi has successfully organized 5 webinar by which 11 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 2 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Lok  Pratibha: Sangeet  Natak  Akademi  organized  virtual  Lok  Pratibha  -  a  festival  of  young  artists  focused  on narrative and tradition arts form (western region) from 6 to 8 November 2020 through the Akademi Facebook and Youtube page. Approx 56 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 4.2 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 117 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ARTISTS

## 117. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

## SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  survey  or  study  to  assess  the  impact  of  ongoing  pandemic  on entertainment industry especially the livelihood of various artists, local folk artists and artisans;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the findings of such survey or study conducted;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  provide  financial  assistance/package  to  various  artists  namely musicians, theatre artists, dancers, craftsmen etc. who have faced a loss of livelihood due to pandemic;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  total  financial  assistance  granted  and  sanctioned,  State-wise  along with the other remedial steps taken by the Government to provide relief to artists; and
- (e) whether the Government maintains any records of the number of artists and artisans in the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

## MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NER

## (SHRI G.KISHAN REDDY)

## ANSWER

Lok  Sangam: Sangeet  Natak  Akademi  organized  virtual  Lok  Sangam  -  a  festival  of  senior  folk  &  tribal  artists focused  on  tradition  and  folk  music  of  India  from  12  to  14  February  2021  through  the  Akademi  Facebook  and Youtube page. Approx 72 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 7.7 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Lok Jan Pratha Utsav: Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav series Sangeet Natak Akademi organized virtual Lok Jan  Pratha  Utsav  -  a  festival  of  folk  &  tribal  performing  arts  of  India  from  19  to  21  March  2021  through  the Akademi Facebook and Youtube page. Approx 285 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 18.4 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Rang  Azadi: Under  the  Azadi  Ka  Amrit  Mahotsav  series  Sangeet  Natak  Akademi  organized  Rang-Azadi programme dedicated to freedom fighter Rani Avantibai on 20 March 2021 at Dindori in collaboration with Culture Department,  Madhya  Pradesh  and  District  Administration  Dindori.  Total  8  artists  have  monetary  benefited.  An amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Shaheed Diwas: Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav series Sangeet Natak Akademi pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas on 23 March 2021 at Shaheed E Azajm Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum, Khatkar Kalan, Punjab in collaboration with District Administration, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Approx 100 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 6 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Vimal Yatra: The Akademi organized virtual Vimal Yatra festival on the occasion of Swachhata Pakhwada from 18 to  20  April  2021.  Vimal  Yatra  Festival  focused  on  awareness  of  cleanliness  through  street  plays,  performances, puppet shows, seminars etc.  Total 56 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 5.3 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Yog Parv: Apart from the above festivals/programmes, the Akademi has also successfully organized the Yog Parva festival of music, dance, drama, folk & tribal arts and puppetry through online in June 2021 by inviting eminent artists of various performing art forms. Total 186 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 12.8 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Yoga Day 2021: Yog Day - on the occasion of International Yoga Day, held on 21 June 2021 at various sites of ASI being organizing by Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. Total 75 artists have monetary benefited. An amount of Rs. 12.8 lakh approx has been released to the participants.

Centre for Cultural Resources and Training organised 29 E-learning Workshops and 01 Workshop in blended mode, in which 222  Experts / Resource Persons/ Artists/Musician/Theatre/Artists/Dancers/Craftsmen /Accompanists have been paid honorarium and TA as per Centre for Cultural Resources and Training norms. In the virtual/online mode of Expert Committee Meeting for the award of Senior Fellowship for the year 2019-20 under the 'Scheme of Award of Senior/ Junior Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in the fields of Culture' total, 123 number of Experts were invited for evaluation and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training has released an amount of Rs. 11,72,000/- (Rupees Eleven Lakh Seventy Two Thousand only) towards honorarium to Experts.

All participating scholarship holders those who had showcased their talents in ' Meri Kala Hi Meri Pehchan Hai ' were awarded a token amount of Rs. 500/- (rupees five hundred only) each and the Young Scholars were awarded a token amount of Rs. 1000/- (rupees one thousand only) each along with certificates of participation. A total amount of Rs. 86,500/-(Rupees Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred only) have been paid to the artistes for the above said program.

A total Rs 2,96,890/- (Rupees Two Lakhs Ninety Six Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety only) were spent under  Extension  Services  and  Community  Feedback  Programme  at  Centre  for  Cultural  Resources  and  Training Regional Centre, Guwahati, Assam, which include financial assistance to artists by way of honorarium and TA/ DA etc.

(e)  All  the  Akademies  maintain  records  of  their  fellows  and  awardees  and  the  awardees  list  of  scholarship  and fellowship are available on the websites.  Centre for Cultural Resources and Training is maintaining the data base of artists and artisans, the details of the same are enclosed as Annexure.

Annexure

| Name of the State        |   Total Numbers of Artists &Artisans |
|--------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Assam                    |                                  118 |
| Andhra Pradesh           |                                   09 |
| Andaman &Nicobar Islands |                                   06 |
| Bihar                    |                                   23 |
| Chhattisgarh             |                                   09 |
| Delhi                    |                                  127 |
| Gujarat                  |                                   05 |
| Haryana                  |                                   11 |
| Himachal Pradesh         |                                   04 |
| Jharkhand                |                                   10 |
| Jammu & Kashmir          |                                   07 |
| Karnataka                |                                   36 |
| Kerala                   |                                   42 |
| Manipur                  |                                   27 |
| Meghalaya                |                                   03 |
| Maharashtra              |                                   18 |
| Madhya Pradesh           |                                   41 |
| Odisha                   |                                   64 |
| Punjab                   |                                   05 |
| Rajasthan                |                                   46 |
| Tamil Nadu               |                                   48 |
| Telangana                |                                   40 |
| Tripura                  |                                   28 |
| Uttar Pradesh            |                                   16 |
| West Bengal              |                                   81 |
| Puducherry               |                                   04 |
| Total                    |                                  828 |