Several Steps taken to help Artists during Covid Pandemic: Shri G. kishan Reddy

Key Highlights:

–From Virtual programs to honorarium distribution, several steps taken to help artists by Culture Ministry

– 881 virtual programs benefitted 22,070 artists, Rs 2.82 crore  distributed as honorarium during first lockdown

– Exemption has been granted in submission of annual income certificateunder the scheme of ‘Artists Pension’

Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) have been set up by Government of India. These ZCCs organize cultural activities and programmes on regular basis throughout the country. Jharkhand is the member State of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata. Folk artists of various art forms from all over India including Chhau artists of Jharkhand are engaged to participate in these programmes for which honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging and local transportation is provided to these artists to enable them to earn their livelihood. EZCC has supported around 12000 artists through online programmes and organized production-oriented workshops for craftsmen at Shilpagram, Santiniketan to help them financially. For carrying out these cultural activities, these ZCCs are provided annual grant-in-aid by Government of India. Due to COVID-19 Pandemic in the country, the entire artists community faced a financial crisis. For improving the financial condition of these artists, Ministry of Culture has taken many initiatives to help the artists in distress during COVID-19 Pandemic.

ZCCs are organizing online programmes and documenting performances of the artists and broadcasting the same on various social media platforms like facebook and Youtube. The artists are paid remuneration for their online performances.

Steps taken by the Ministry of Culture to Help Artists during Covid Pandemic  

In view of the prevailing conditions, the Ministry of Culture issued guidelines in October, 2020 to help artists/organizations who have already been sanctioned grant under various scheme components of ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)’ to conduct events on virtual mode. This will enable them to avail benefits under these schemes even if they are not able to stage programs in physical format as before and will ensure continued financial assistance to tide over the present crisis.

All efforts have been made to release the funds to already approved grantees under various financial schemes of the Ministry of Culture. The funds released during the first quarter of F.Y. 2020-21 was much more than that released during 1st quarter of FY 2019-2020. Similar efforts are being made in this financial year also.

In view of COVID-19, under the scheme of Repertory Grant, exemption has been granted to organizations from mandatory inspection for release of yearly grant.

All help is also being extended to the grantees for completing various procedural formalities like compliance of mandatory EAT Module.  In respect of the scheme component of Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG), one-time exemption has been granted to the organizations from filing the expenditure in EAT module for release of 1st instalment to the grantees of 43rd and previous meetings of CFPGS.

In view of COVID-19, under the Scheme of Scholarship & Fellowship for Promotion of Art & Culture, selection of Senior Fellows for the Batch Year 2019-20 & mid-term and final evaluation of 06 monthly reports of earlier batches (upto Batch Year 2017-18) in respect of both Junior/Senior Fellows has been held through virtual mode in view of the large number of members of the Expert Committee.

Under the scheme of ‘Artists Pension’, one time exemption has been granted regarding submission of the mandatory annual income certificate by the pensioners.

All the ZCCs have encouraged the folk artists/artisans to get registered with their member States in order to avail the schemes announced by the States.

During the first lockdown, the ZCCs organised 881 virtual programs which benefitted 22,070 artists & Rs 2.82 crore were distributed as honorarium ranging from Rs 500-5100 (Groups paid Rs 25000-50000). Similar efforts are being continued this year too.

South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur in association with a Chennai based NGO Samarpana organized an online fund-raising programme” Notes of Nector-100 for 1000” participated by eminent artists from North and South. This fund raiser initiative has enabled 1200 families of folk artists to get financial assistance, groceries etc. during COVID-19 Pandemic.

All the ZCCs took care of artistes admitted to hospitals/nursing homes and held consultations with doctors to ensure the best treatment for them. Vaccination Camps in collaboration with a multispecialty hospital in Kolkata was arranged by EZCC through CSR fund for their artistes. Emergency lifesaving medicines/injections required by some of the artists admitted in the hospital were arranged by ZCCs through Health Department of the State Governments.

Efforts have been made to engage artists during Commemoration events enabling them to avail financial benefits out of the grants released by the Ministry.

This information was given by minister of Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in written reply in Rajya Sabha Today.