The “Scheme of Financial Assistance to Indigent Artists” was launched by the Art and Culture Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. The scheme provides a monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000/- to artists in indigent circumstances and their dependents, acknowledging their lifelong contributions to art and culture.
Benefits
- Monthly Financial Assistance: ₹3,000/- per month to eligible artists.
Eligibility
- Profession: The applicant must be an artist who has professionally contributed to art disciplines such as music, dance, drama, film, folk arts, etc.
- Age: The applicant should be 58 years or above.
- Indigent Circumstances: The applicant should be in financial distress.
- Income Limit:
- The annual income of the applicant or their legal spouse should not exceed ₹12,000/-.
- Service: The applicant must have rendered significant service in their respective art discipline.
Application Process
Offline Application Steps:
- Advertisement:
- Notifications calling for applications are published in newspapers by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram.
- Form Collection:
- Visit the Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector’s office during office hours to collect the prescribed application form.
- Form Completion:
- Fill in all mandatory fields in the form.
- Attach a passport-sized photograph and the required documents (self-attest if necessary).
- Submission:
- Submit the completed application form to the Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector.
- Request an acknowledgment receipt with essential details like submission date, time, and a unique identification number (if applicable).
- Forwarding:
- The Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector will forward the application to the Regional Assistant Director of Art and Culture at Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, or Salem.
Documents Required
- Passport-Sized Photograph.
- Artist Certificate: Proof of professional contribution to art disciplines.
- Age Certificate.
- Income Certificate.
- Property Valuation Certificate: Issued by the Thasildar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is implementing the scheme in Tamil Nadu?
The scheme is implemented by the Art and Culture Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
2. What is the benefit provided under the scheme?
Eligible indigent artists receive ₹3,000/- per month as financial assistance.
3. What are the eligibility criteria for this scheme?
Applicants must be artists aged 58 years or above, in indigent circumstances, and earning an annual income of less than ₹12,000/-.
4. How can eligible artists apply for the scheme?
Artists can apply offline by collecting the prescribed application form from the Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector’s office, completing it, and submitting it with the required documents.
5. What is the process for considering applications and providing final assistance?
- The Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector forwards applications to the Regional Assistant Director of Art and Culture for scrutiny.
- A district-level committee reviews the applications.
- The final approval is granted by the Art and Culture Department.
6. Who certifies the genuineness of the applicant as an artist?
The Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector certifies the authenticity of the applicant’s claim as an artist.
7. Where can applicants obtain the application form?
The forms are available at the Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub Collector’s office.
8. What are the regional offices where applications are processed?
Applications are processed at the regional offices in Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, and Salem.
9. Who ultimately approves the list of artists for financial assistance?
The Art and Culture Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, grants the final approval.
10. Where are financial assistance payments disbursed?
Payments are disbursed directly to the selected artist’s bank account.