Ministry of Culture administers ‘Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists’ Scheme

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Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists Scheme: The program’s official name is the “Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists,” created to boost the financial and socio-economic well-being of aged artists and scholars who have made significant contributions in their respective fields of arts, literature, and other related fields during their active years or continue to do so. However, due to their old age, they may be living in poverty or leading miserable life.

Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists – Overview

Cases/ Requests Covered in Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists

• Existing beneficiaries receiving monthly artistes pension under the 1961 Scheme of Financial assistance is provided to individuals distinguished in Letters, Arts, and other walks of life who are in indigent circumstances. The scheme has been amended from time to time
• Fresh cases of artistes, writers, etc. who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a grant or monthly financial assistance under the current guidelines of the scheme

Eligibility Criteria for monthly Artists’ Pension

• To be eligible for assistance under the Scheme, the applicant’s contribution to art and letters must be significant.
• Traditional scholars who have made a significant contribution in their fields are also eligible, even if they have not published any works.
• The applicant’s personal income (including spouse’s income) should not exceed Rs.4,000/- per month or Rs.48,000/- annually (excluding artiste pension assistance already received from the Government).
• The applicant should be at least 60 years old, except in the case of the spouse.
• The applicant artiste must receive a pension of at least Rs.500/- per month from the concerned State Government/UT Administration or be recommended by the Zonal Cultural Centres of the Ministry of Culture for artists from their respective States where State Pension is not available.
• The applicant artistes should not receive financial assistance under other schemes of the Ministry such as Repertory Grant, etc.

Documents Required to apply for Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists Scheme

• A recent (not older than six months) clear and colored passport-size photograph of the applicant must be affixed in the specified place in the application form.
• A self-attested copy of any one document from the listed documents for address proof. The documents include Aadhaar Card, 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 the address of the applicant, Property registration document. The document should not be more than three months old on the date of the application.
• A self-attested copy of any one document from the listed documents for proof of Date of Birth. The documents include Aadhaar Card, 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. A certificate issued by a Doctor/any other authority certifying age on the basis of physical appearance of the applicant will not be accepted, and the application of such an applicant will be rejected summarily.
• A self-attested copy of Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI.
• An original copy of Income Certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure-I of the Application Form) issued by the Competent Authority of the State/UTs concerned. The Competent Authority for issue of Income Certificate in various States/Union Territories is given in Annexure-II of the Application Form.
• Copies of relevant documents that 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.
• A duly filled-in and signed prescribed Bank Authorization letter (Annexure-III of the Application Form) which is verified and signed by the Manager of the concerned Bank (in original).
• A recommendation letter obtained from the Culture Department of the concerned State Government/ UT Administrations in the prescribed format
• The application may also be made online through 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’.

Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists Scheme Online Application Process

• Eligible artistes must submit their applications in the prescribed form along with the necessary documents.
• Applicant artists who receive a pension of at least Rs.500/- per month from the concerned State Government/UT Administration may send their application through their respective State Government/UT Administration with their recommendations.
• Zonal Cultural Centers of the Ministry of Culture will recommend the applications of artists from their member States/UTs where there is no provision of Artist Pension.

To obtain additional information on the ‘Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists’ Scheme administered by the Ministry of Culture, ensure that you visit freshersnow.com regularly.