Question : Welfare-Pension Scheme for Artists

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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