Lok Sabha Question No. 3477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-08
Subject: Artists' Pension Scheme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA, HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3477

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 8.8.2016

## ARTISTS' PENSION SCHEME

## 3477.  SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA: SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM: SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Government  has  formulated  a  welfare  pension  or  financial assistance/honorarium/   scholarship scheme for the cultural artists in the field of performing arts, literature, drama and theatre etc.;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof including the names of such artists benefited under these  schemes during each of the last three  years  and the  current  year, State/UT-wise;
- (c)    the total funds sanctioned and released under the scheme during the said period, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the financial assistance/pension amount for the artists under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)      whether  the  Government  has  received  applications  for  providing  pension from artists and if so, the status of those applications?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (Dr. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Culture  administers  the  'Artistes  Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund'.
- (b) As  per  the  extant  guidelines  assistance  from  the  Government  is  in  the form of monthly allowance. Such allowance given to the Artistes recommended under the Centre-State Quota  will be shared by the Centre and  State Government  /UT  Administration  concerned,  with  the  latter  paying  a  monthly allowance of at least Rs.500/- per month per beneficiary. The monthly allowance contributed  by  the  Central  Government  in  such  cases  shall  not  exceed  Rs. 3500/- per month per beneficiary.

As per the Scheme those artistes and traditional scholars shall be eligible for getting the assistance who have made significant contribution in their fields, art and letters etc. and their income (including income of the spouse) must not exceed  Rs.  4000/-  per  month  and  also  their  age  should  not  be  less  than  60 years.

The  information  regarding  the  artistes  benefited  under  the  aforesaid scheme during the last three years and the current year is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

(c) The funds under the scheme are sanctioned and released by the Ministry to  the  Service  Provider  the  Life  Insurance  Corporation  of  India  (LIC)  and  not State/UT-wise. The details of  total amount of funds sanctioned  and  released to LIC for disbursement of artistes pension  under the scheme in the last 3 years and the current year are as under:-

(Rs. In Crore)

| Year                 |   Budget allocated |   Financial assistance granted |
|----------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2013-14              |              19.35 |                          15.31 |
| 2014-15              |              19    |                          17.64 |
| 2015-16              |              18.45 |                          17.78 |
| 2016-17 (as on date) |              18    |                           7.72 |

(d) No, Madam.

(e) Yes,  Madam.  As  on  31.7.2016,  a  total  of  5478  applications  have  been received from artists for providing pension.  These applications shall be considered in the next meeting of Expert Committee of the scheme.