Lok Sabha Question No. 1009 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-27
Subject: Pensioners of Delhi Public Library
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF CULTURE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1090**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.7.2015**

**WELFARE/PENSION SCHEME FOR ARTISTS**

1090   DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD

SHRIMATI RITA TARAI

SHRI RAM  MOHAN  NAIDU KINJARAPU

SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM

SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL

Will the Minister of **CULTURE** be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the  Government proposes to introduce welfare/pension scheme for the welfare of cultural artists;

(b) 	if so, the details thereof;

(c)	whether any grant, pension or financial assistance / honorarium / scholarship has been granted to such artists in the country during the last three years;

(d)	if so, the details thereof, State-wise and year-wise; and

(e)	whether the Government proposes to increase the pension amount for the artists under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM**

**AND**

**MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION**

**(Dr. MAHESH SHARMA)**

(a)	No, Madam.  At present there is no such proposal under consideration of the Government.

(b)	Does not arise.

(c)	Ministry of  Culture is implementing “Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund” to give pension to Persons Distinguished in Letters, Arts and such other walks of Life who may be in indigent Circumstances and their Dependents. Under the Scheme, artists whose personal income (including income of the spouse) does not exceed Rs. 4,000/- per month and who are not less than 58 years of age are considered for financial assistance of Rs. 4,000/- p.m. under Central Quota and  Rs. 3,500/- p.m. under Central-State Quota. The eligible artists should have made significant contribution in the field of arts, letters, etc. for being considered for financial assistance under this Scheme. The total amount of funds disbursed in the last 3 years are as under:-

(Fig. in Rs.Crore)

| **Year**   |   **Financial assistance granted** |
|------------|------------------------------------|
| 2012-13    |                              15.22 |
| 2013-14    |                              15.31 |
| 2014-15    |                              17.64 |

(d)	The state-wise number of beneficiaries under this scheme is given at Annexure. Year-wise total amount of funds disbursed in the last 3 years is furnished at ( c) above.

(e)	No, Madam.

**ANNEXURE**

**State-wise details of Artistes / dependents availing financial assistance under the “Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund" as on date.**

| **Sl. No.**   | **States**       | **No. of Beneficiaries**   |
|---------------|------------------|----------------------------|
| 1.            | Andhra Pradesh   | 270                        |
| 2.            | Assam            | 49                         |
| 3.            | Bihar            | 46                         |
| 4.            | Delhi            | 49                         |
| 5.            | Goa              | 10                         |
| 6.            | Gujarat          | 6                          |
| 7.            | Haryana          | 31                         |
| 8.            | Himachal Pradesh | 6                          |
| 9.            | Jammu & Kashmir  | 2                          |
| 10.           | Jharkhand        | 10                         |
| 11.           | Karnataka        | 713                        |
| 12.           | Kerala           | 341                        |
| 13.           | Madhya Pradesh   | 55                         |
| 14.           | Maharashtra      | 866                        |
| 15.           | Manipur          | 142                        |
| 16.           | Meghalaya        | 1                          |
| 17.           | Mizoram          | 5                          |
| 18.           | Nagaland         | 3                          |
| 19.           | Odisha           | 274                        |
| 20.           | Puducherry       | 6                          |
| 21.           | Punjab           | 3                          |
| 22.           | Rajasthan        | 10                         |
| 23.           | Tamil Nadu       | 251                        |
| 24.           | Telangana        | 187                        |
| 25.           | Tripura          | 1                          |
| 26.           | Uttar Pradesh    | 260                        |
| 27.           | Uttarakhand      | 14                         |
| 28.           | West Bengal      | 87                         |
|               | **Total**        | **3698**                   |

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