The Maintenance Grant to Institutions and Organizations Engaged in Cultural Activities scheme was launched by the Arts and Culture Department, Puducherry. This scheme provides financial assistance to organizations engaged in cultural activities for their maintenance and operational needs. Applications for this scheme are accepted offline.
Benefits
- ₹3,000 per month for maintenance.
- ₹5,000 per month for cultural activities.
Eligibility
- Cultural activities must have lasted two years for the organization.
- The Memorandum of Association requires a competent person or entity to audit and approve the institution’s finances.
- No one may benefit from the cultural organization.
- Institutions must submit usage certifications for all prior funds to acquire new awards.
Application Process
Offline Application
- Visit the Department of Art and Culture during office hours to collect the hard copy of the application form.
OR
Download the application form from the official website. - Fill in the application form with the required details, attach a passport-sized photograph, and submit self-attested copies of the mandatory documents.
- Submit the completed application to the Superintendent, Department of Art and Culture, 1, Romain Rolland Street, Puducherry.
- Request a receipt or acknowledgment from the superintendent. Ensure that the receipt contains the date and time of submission and a unique identification number (if applicable).
Documents Required
- Memorandum of Association
- Copy of Constitution
- Financial Statements
- Balance Sheet
- Utilization Certificates (for all previously received grants)
- List of assets and liabilities of the Institution/Organization
- Any other document, if required
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When may cultural organizations apply for the maintenance grant?
A cultural organization must have completed two years of cultural activity.
2. What financial conditions do cultural organizations need for the maintenance grant?
The Memorandum of Association requires a competent authority to audit and approve the institution’s finances.
3. Can for-profit cultural organizations get maintenance grants?
No, only non-profit cultural groups may get the funding.
4. What happens if an entity fails to submit usage certifications for earlier grants?
Under this arrangement, organizations who have not filed usage certificates for prior funds cannot get new funding.
5. How much does qualifying institutions get in maintenance grants?
Eligible institutions get a monthly maintenance grant of ₹3,000.
6. How much is the grant for cultural activities?
Eligible institutions get ₹5,000 monthly for cultural activities.
7. Who is qualified to audit the institution’s accounts?
The institution’s Memorandum of Association specifies a qualified auditor for account audits.
8. What format should prior grant usage certifications be submitted in?
Yes, institutions must adopt Arts and Culture Department structure.
9. Can a new cultural group get the maintenance grant?
For eligibility, the group must have been culturally active for two years.
10. What documentation prove the group is non-profit?
The Memorandum of Association and financial accounts must specify that the organization is non-profit.