Lok Sabha Question No. 1213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Criteria Fixed for Artists Pension Scheme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1213 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## 'CRITERIA FIXED FOR ARTISTS PENSION SCHEME'

## 1213. Shri Rahul Ramesh Shewale:

Shri Chandra Sekhar Sahu:

Dr. Pritam Gopinathrao Munde:

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

- (a)  whether the Central Government has given pension to Artists;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  and  criteria  fixed  for  sanction  and  release  of  Artists  Pension scheme;
- (c)  the details of Artists Pension funds released and disbursed against the demand of disbursement/requirement of designated agency to artists during each of the last three years, State-wise particularly in respect of artists from Maharashtra;
- (d)  whether it is a fact that designated agency in respect of Artists Pension has not been able to disburse Artists Pension since COVID-19 lockdown period; and
- (e)  if so, the details in this regard, along with reasons therefor, State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra;

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme by the name of 'Scheme for Financial  Assistance  for  Veteran  Artists'  under  which  financial  assistance  is provided to senior artists aged 60 years & above having annual income not more than  72000/-  and  have  contributed  significantly  in  their  specialized  fields  of performing  arts  and  culture,  but  are  facing  financial  difficulties  due  to  old  age. Under the scheme financial assistance upto Rs. 6000/- per month is given to the selected artists upon receipt of certain mandatory documents such as Digital Life Certificate (DLC) and annual income certificate, State share proof etc. from them.
- (c) State-wise details of funds released to the artists under the scheme including the state of Maharashtra during the last three years is annexed .
- (d)  No Sir, to ensure that the senior artists do not suffer the hardships during Covid-19 pandemic, the submission of mandatory income certificate by the beneficiary was exempted as one time relaxation and financial assistance has been released to the eligible beneficiaries under the scheme on the basis of DLC received from them. In fact the amount released in 2021-22 was more than 2020-21 including in the state of Maharashtra.
- (e)  Does not arise in view of reply to part(d) of the question.

## Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists

## ANNEXURE

(Rs. In Lakhs)

FY - 2022-23

| Sl. No.   | States                | FY - 2020-21 Amount Disbursed   | FY - 2021-22 Amount Disbursed   | FY - 2022-23 Amount Disbursed   |
|-----------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh        | 5.1                             | 72.29                           | 84.66                           |
| 2         | Assam                 | 0.96                            | 0.48                            | 1.57                            |
| 3         | Bihar                 | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 4         | NCT of Delhi          | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 5         | Goa                   | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 6         | Gujarat               | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 7         | Haryana               | -                               | 0.93                            | 0.56                            |
| 8         | Himachal Pradesh      | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 9         | UT of Jammu & Kashmir | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 10        | Jharkhand             | 2.28                            | 3.00                            | 3.59                            |
| 11        | Karnataka             | 29.97                           | 59.55                           | 64.32                           |
| 12        | Kerala                | 8.18                            | 24.49                           | 25.3                            |
| 13        | Madhya Pradesh        | 2.44                            | 5.04                            | 3.86                            |
| 14        | Maharashtra           | 106.61                          | 190.49                          | 273.49                          |
| 15        | Manipur               | 3.36                            | 7.84                            | 0.6                             |
| 16        | Meghalaya             | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 17        | Mizoram               | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 18        | Nagaland              | 0.48                            | 0.92                            | 0.12                            |
| 19        | Odisha                | 119.46                          | 276.95                          | 306.77                          |
| 20        | Puducherry (UT)       | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 21        | Punjab                | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 22        | Rajasthan             | 0.07                            | 1.23                            | 0.71                            |
| 23        | Tamil Nadu            | 0.87                            | 15.49                           | 14.6                            |
| 24        | Telangana             | 53.2                            | 217.29                          | 268.16                          |
| 25        | Tripura               | 0.24                            | 0.92                            | 0.12                            |
| 26        | Uttar Pradesh         | 5.12                            | 13.08                           | 15.46                           |
| 27        | Uttarakhand           | -                               | -                               | -                               |
| 28        | West Bengal           | 5.09                            | 12.31                           | 11.71                           |
|           | Total                 | 343.46                          | 902.30                          | 1075.6                          |
|           | LIC                   | 527.85                          | 639.87                          | 783.58                          |
|           | G. Total              | 871.31                          | 1542.17                         | 1859.18                         |

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