Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (STARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan, Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *16 TO BE ANSWERED ON25.11.2024

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN ARTISTS

## *16. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN: SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  number  of  artists  who  are  selected  under  the  Scheme  for  Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists and the amount of pension received per month, Statewise;
- (b)  the  number  of  veteran  artists  from  the  State  of  West  Bengal  getting  Financial Assistance  under  the  Scheme  of  the  Government  and  the  details  and  number  of requisite applications for pension pending during the last three years, State-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  several  veteran  artists  from  the  State  of Kerala are not receiving their pension amounts even after the submission of requisite documents for the last two years;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof including the month from which the pension is pending and the total pension amount pending for payment as on 31.10.2024 for veteran artists from the State of Kerala;
- (e)  whether the Government considers expediting the payment of pending pension to all such artists;
- (f) if so, the time frame set for the same; and
- (g)  whether the Government intends to increase the monthly pension amount to veteran artists, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE ANDTOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (g) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *16 FOR 25 th  November, 2024

- (a)  The Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme by the name of 'Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists' in its various forms with the objective to support old and poor artists. The financial assistance being provided to the artists under the scheme is not any kind of pension in the conventional sense. Instead, it is meant for extending support in the form of financial assistance provided for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the  old  artists.  Financial  assistance  under  this  scheme  is  provided  @  Rs.  6000/-  per month to the selected artists of all States/UTs. However, artist pension if any, is received by  the  selected  artists  from  their  respective  State  Government/UT  Administration,  the same is deducted before release of the assistance to such artists. The number of artists selected and supported under Scheme 'Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists' upto the year 2024-25 is given at Annexure .
- (b)    The  number  of  veteran  artists  from  the  State  of  West  Bengal  getting  Financial Assistance under the scheme during last three years and current year is given below:

| Financial Year             |   Number of Veteran Artist supported |   Amount disbursed (Rs. in Lakh) |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2021-22                    |                                   32 |                            12.31 |
| 2022-23                    |                                   27 |                            11.71 |
| 2023-24                    |                                   35 |                            28.53 |
| 2024-25 (as on 21.11.2024) |                                   17 |                             8.89 |

Release  of  financial  assistance  to  the  selected  artists  depends  on  the  submission  of certain  mandatory  documents  such  as,  Digital  Life  Certificate  (DLC)  once  in  a  year, annual income certificate once in every five years, documents showing receipt of artist pension,  if  any,  from  the  concerned  State  Government/UT  Administration.  Once  the requisite mandatory documents are received from them, which is a continuous process throughout the year, all efforts are made  to disburse the financial assistance expeditiously.

- (c)  &  (d)  It  has  been  the  constant  endeavor  of  the  Government  to  help  the  selected artists of all States/UTs including State of Kerala by releasing financial assistance under the scheme at the earliest upon receipt of requisite documents from them. Accordingly, the number of veteran artists from the State of Kerala getting Financial Assistance under the scheme during last two years is given below:
- (e)  &  (f)  Ministry  of  Culture  had  entrusted  the  Life  Insurance  Corporation  (LIC)  for disbursing the financial assistance to the selected beneficiaries prior to the year 2017. With  effect  from  2017,  the  Ministry  itself  started  the  disbursal  of  assistance  to  the  old artists  upon  receipt  of  requisite  documents  from  them.  To  further  streamline  the disbursement of financial assistance to the beneficiaries under the scheme, an MoU has been  signed  between  the  Ministry  and  Canara  Bank  on  28.06.2023  which  has  led  to increase in the disbursal of financial assistance from Rs. 18.17 crore in 2022-23 to Rs. 28.96 crore in 2023-24.
- (g)  The scheme was last reviewed in 2022 and monthly financial assistance under the scheme has been increased from Rs. 4000/- to Rs. 6000/- from 1 st June, 2022.

| Financial Year   |   Number of Veteran Artist supported |   Amount disbursed (Rs. in Lakh) |
|------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2022-23          |                                   51 |                            25.3  |
| 2023-24          |                                   67 |                            64.21 |

## Annexure referred to in Reply of Part (a) of the Starred Question No. *16 for 25.11.2024 in Lok Sabha

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs     | No of Artists Benefitted   |
|-----------|----------------|----------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh | 507                        |
| 2         | Assam          | 36                         |
| 3         | Bihar          | 41                         |
| 4         | NCT of Delhi   | 34                         |
| 5         | Haryana        | 21                         |
| 6         | Jharkhand      | 13                         |
| 7         | Karnataka      | 834                        |
| 8         | Kerala         | 344                        |
| 9         | Madhya Pradesh | 55                         |
| 10        | Maharashtra    | 1995                       |
| 11        | Manipur        | 116                        |
| 12        | Nagaland       | 4                          |
| 13        | Odisha         | 2049                       |
| 14        | Rajasthan      | 9                          |
| 15        | Tamil Nadu     | 264                        |
| 16        | Telangana      | 673                        |
| 17        | Uttar Pradesh  | 231                        |
| 18        | Uttarakhand    | 13                         |
| 19        | West Bengal    | 94                         |
|           | Total          | 7333*                      |

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