Govt revises eligibility criteria for honorarium to senior artists

Govt revises eligibility criteria for honorarium to senior artists

AFTER a long gap State Government has revised the eligibility criteria for honorarium to senior litterateurs and artists The major revision is in annual
income limit of senior litterateur/artist seeking honorarium under the scheme has been revised from Rs 24.000 per annum previously to Rs 48000 per annum now.
State Government implements the scheme in provide honorarium to senior litterateurs and artists since 1954-55 through Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department The guidelines for implementation of the scheme were revised from lime to lime In March 1991. the honorarium was Rs 6.000 per annum for Grade A' artists Rs 4800 per annum for Grade B' artists and Rs 3.600 per annum for Grade C ,artists The amount of honorarium was revised in june 1994 for all these categories Its Rs 8400/ Rs 7,200/. and Rs 6.000/per annum.

There were allegations of bogus artists being given benefits, following which a probe was conducted and norms underwent changes. The honorarium was paid to beneficiaries through cheques, and later the amount was deposited directly in the beneficiaries' bank account in District central co-operative Bank (DCCB). The guidelines also were changed, and the powers of selecting the ben eficiaries under the scheme were delegated to Zilla Parishad (ZP). In July 2009. the honorarium was changed for the above-mentioned categories to Rs 16800 Rs 14.400' and Rs 12.000' per annum. Recently. government once again changed the guidelines and eligibility criteria.

According to officials, there was a long pending demand to raise the Income limit. Previously, it was Rs 24.000 per annum, which meant an artist earning only Rs 2.000 per month was eligible to apply for honorarium under the scheme. Now, the Government has revised the income limit to Rs 48000 per annum Further, the documents required with application have been revised. beside women artists also have been made eligible for aid under the scheme. The spouse of a deceased artist eligible under the scheme will get the honorarium till his her death. The age limit of 50 years or above has been relaxed in case of physically challenged or paralysed or ailing litterateurs artists.However, as far as Nagpur district is concerned, the applications of 314 artists are pending  for approval by the selection committee. Sources said that the ZP addministration  has cited the reason of Model Code of Conduct for lok sabha elections being in  force for not holding the meeting of the selection committee. As per the prevalent norms only 60 beneficiaries are to be cleared for honorarium in a year in a district. This norm has put the ZP administration in a fix as it has received 314 application ZP has requested the government to treat it as a special case ard clear at least 298 application found eligible for honorarium under the scheme. so that senior and aged applicants do not have to wait for their turn next year or even later.
So far. in Nagpur district, a total of 1.005 litterateurs/artists' are getting honorarium to the tune of Rs 1.29 crore per annum.

Posted in: News 2014