Scheme For Financial Assistance For Veteran Artists

Description
The “Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists”, earlier known as “Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artists” was launched by the Ministry of Culture. The Scheme is meant for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the old artists and scholars who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters, etc. in their active age or are still contributing in the field of arts, letters, etc. but due to old age, they have to lead a miserable life or are in penury condition. Under the scheme, financial assistance from the Government may be given in the form of a monthly allowance. Such allowance given to the artists recommended under the center-state Quota will be shared by the Centre and State Government/UT Administration concerned. The following two types of cases/requests will be covered under the Scheme: 1. Existing beneficiaries getting monthly artistes pension under the 1961 Scheme of ‘Financial Assistance to Persons Distinguished in Letters, Arts and such other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances’ as amended from time to time; and 1. Fresh cases of artists, writers, etc. who are eligible for a grant/monthly financial assistance under the extant guidelines of the Scheme. Administration of the Scheme: The Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry with the support of all Zonal Cultural Centres and SCZCC, Nagpur will be the main coordinator. The Ministry reserves the right to modify the provisions of the Scheme at any time. In order to implement the Scheme in a better perspective, the Scheme Guidelines will be circulated widely through State Governments/UT Administrations along with sharing the data of beneficiaries of the Central Government with them.

Definitions
Artist
Existing beneficiaries getting monthly artistes pension under the 1961 Scheme of 'Financial Assistance to Persons Distinguished in Letters,Arts and Such other Walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances' as amended from time to time.
Fresh cases of artistes, writers, etc. who are eligible for a grant/monthly financial assistance under the extant guidelines of the Scheme.
Traditional scholars who have made significant contribution in their fields would also be eligible notwithstanding the absence of any published works.
artists who are awardees (State Awardees or National Awardees) or categorized/recognized artistes of Akashwani/Doordarshan and who can substantially prove their source of earning from the art activity during their active age
(Source: https://www.indiaculture.nic.in/scheme-pension-and-medical-aid-artistes)

Competent Authority
For the purpose of issuance of Income certificate, the Statewise / UT wise is as given in Annexure - 2 (B).
(Source: https://www.indiaculture.nic.in/scheme-pension-and-medical-aid-artistes)

Benefits
• Under the scheme, a total allowance of ₹6000/- per month will be given to an eligible beneficiary.
• In case of the death of a beneficiary getting an artist pension, the financial assistance may be transferred, at the discretion of the Central Government, in the name of the spouse of the beneficiary till life.
• **Note 01:** The monthly allowance contributed by the State Government/UT Administration concerned shall be at least ₹500/- per month per beneficiary.
• **Note 02:** The monthly allowance contributed by the Central Government shall not exceed ₹5500/- per month per beneficiary.
• **Note 03:** Out of ₹6000/-, the monthly contribution of allowance of the Central Government will be less than the extent of the monthly contribution of allowance being provided to the applicant by the State Government/UT Administration.
• **Note 04:** If State Government is already providing ₹1000/- per month pension to an artiste recommended to get financial assistance from the Central Government under this Scheme, in that case, the contribution of the Central Government would be only ₹5000/- per month.
• **Note 05:** In respect of State Govt./UT Administration where there is no provision for an Artist's Pension, ₹6000/- per month will be paid as an Artist Pension by the Central Government.
• **Note 06:** In case of the death of a beneficiary, a request application should be received in the Ministry of Culture from the spouse along with the relevant documents within the period of one year from the date of death of the beneficiary artist. After the period of one year, the claim for the transfer of pension in the name of the spouse will stand forfeited and no request in this regard shall be entertained.

Eligibility Criteria
1. To be eligible for assistance under the Scheme, a person's contribution to art and letters, etc. must be of significance.
2. Traditional scholars who have made significant contributions in their fields would also be eligible notwithstanding the absence of any published works.
3. The personal income of the applicant (including the income of the spouse) must not exceed ₹4,000/- per month or an annual income of ₹48,000/-. [This excludes artiste pension assistance amount already getting by a beneficiary from the Government (i.e. concerned State Govt./UT Administration and/or Ministry of Culture)]
4. The applicant should not be less than 60 (sixty) years of age (This does not apply in the case of a spouse).
5. The applicant artiste is getting a pension of at least ₹500/- per month from the concerned State Government/UT Administration or is recommended by the Zonal Cultural Centres, Ministry of Culture, for the artists of their Members State where State Pension is not there.
6. The applicant artists should not be getting financial assistance under other Schemes of the Ministry viz. Repertory Grant etc.

Required Documents
• A recent (not older than six months) clear & colored passport-size photograph of the applicant to be affixed on the specified place in the application form;
• Self-attested copy of any one document from the following listed documents for address proof:- Aadhaar Card issued by Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI); Elector’s photo identity card; Passport; Driving License; Electricity Bill; Landline telephone or broadband connection bill; Water Bill; Consumer gas connection card or book or piped gas bill; Bank account statement, Domicile certificate issued by the Government; Passport of the spouse; Post office passbook having an address of the applicant; Property registration document
• Self-attested copy of any one document from the following listed documents for proof of Date of Birth:- Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI; PAN Card, Elector’s photo identity card; Passport; Driving License; Birth Certificate issued by the Municipal Authority or any office authorized to issue Birth and Death Certificate by the Registrar of Birth and Deaths; Marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages; Matriculation/10th class certificate or mark sheet of recognized Board; Domicile certificate issued by the Government.
• Self-attested copy of Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI.
• Original copy of Income Certificate in the prescribed format [Annexure-II(A)] issued by the Competent Authority of the State/UTs concerned.
• Copies of relevant documents which support the applicant’s contributions made in the field of Art, Culture, etc., or awards, recognition, or distinction received by the applicant from Central/State Government/Union Territory or any prominent Literary or Arts Society.
• Duly filled-in and signed prescribed Bank Authorization letter (Annexure-IV) which is verified & signed by the Manager of the concerned Bank (in original).
• Recommendation letter obtained from the Culture Department of the concerned Stated Government/UT Administrations in the prescribed format [Part-II of the Application Form (Appendix)].
• Copy of death certificate of the late beneficiary in original or self-attested;
• Documentary proof to support that the late beneficiary was getting artistes pension;
• Legal heir certificate in the prescribed proforma issued by the Competent Authority and an affidavit from SDM or 1st Class Magistrate in proforma;
• Self-attested copy of the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) of the spouse processed through Jeevan Pramaan Portal https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in
• Self-attested copy of the latest Income Certificate of the spouse in the prescribed format [Annexure-II(A)] issued by the concerned Competent Authority of the States/UTs[Annexure-II(B)];
• Self-attested copy of Aadhaar Card of spouse issued by UIDAI;
• Self-attested copy of any document in support of address proof of the spouse.
• An undertaking that he/she is not getting financial assistance under other Schemes of the Ministry of Culture or other Ministry/Department of Central Government for the same purpose.
• Bank Authorization Letter in the prescribed format (Annexure-IV)

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the “Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists”?
A: The Scheme is meant for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the old artists and scholars who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters, etc. in their active age or are still contributing in the field of arts, letters, etc. but due to old age, they have to lead a miserable life or are in penury condition.

Q: Is it a Centrally Sponsored Scheme?
A: Yes, it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

Q: Which ministry has launched this scheme?
A: Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Q: Who is eligible to get the benefits under the scheme?
A: A person or traditional scholars who have made significant contributions in the field of arts, letters, etc. are eligible to apply under the scheme.

Q: What is the income criterion to apply under the scheme?
A: The personal income of the applicant (including the income of the spouse) must not exceed [?]48,000/- per annum.

Q: Will the artist's pension assistance be included in his/her annual income?
A: No, artist's pension assistance will be excluded which is getting from the Government.

Q: What should be the age criterion to apply under the scheme?
A: The applicant should not be less than 60 (sixty) years of age (This does not apply in the case of a spouse).

Q: Will an applicant be eligible to apply if he/she is getting financial assistance under other Schemes of the Ministry?
A: No, the applicant artist should not be getting financial assistance under other Schemes of the Ministry viz. Repertory Grant etc.

Q: What is the benefit of the scheme?
A: Under the scheme, a total allowance of [?]6000/- per month will be given to an eligible beneficiary.

Q: Who will get the pension in case of the death of a beneficiary?
A: In case of the death of a beneficiary getting an artist pension, the financial assistance may be transferred, at the discretion of the Central Government, in the name of the spouse of the beneficiary till life.

Q: How much minimum monthly allowance will be contributed by the State Government/UT Administration concerned?
A: The monthly allowance contributed by the State Government/UT Administration concerned shall be at least [?]500/- per month per beneficiary. In respect of State Govt./UT Administration where there is no provision for an Artist's Pension, [?]6000/- per month will be paid as an Artist Pension by the Central Government.

Q: How can I apply under the scheme?
A: The application may be made online by using the Registration/login Page of "Culture Scheme Monitoring System (CSMS)" on the website of the Ministry of Culture under the heading of "MOC Schemes Application".