Question : Impact of Covid-19 on Artists

(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)

(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.

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 Parv- a 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