Launched by the Art and Culture Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, this scheme aims to support the legal heirs—specifically the wife or husband—of an indigent artist who was receiving financial assistance. The objective is to ease the financial hardship that arises from the loss of an artist who contributed professionally to enriching various art disciplines such as music, dance, drama, film, and folk arts. Under this scheme, a monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 is provided to the eligible legal heir.
Benefits
- Monthly Assistance:
A financial grant of ₹3,000 per month is provided to the legal heir (wife or husband) of the deceased artist. - Eligibility Trigger:
The benefit is triggered solely by the death of an indigent artist who was previously receiving assistance under the “Scheme of Financial Assistance to Indigent Artistes.”
Eligibility
- Legal Heir:
The applicant must be the legal heir (wife or husband) of the deceased. - Artist Status:
The deceased must have been a professional artist who contributed to one or more art disciplines (e.g., music, dance, drama, film, folk arts) and was receiving financial assistance under the relevant scheme for indigent artistes. - Age Criteria for Deceased:
The deceased artist should have been 58 years or older. - Income Limit:
The annual income of the deceased artist or their legal spouse should not have exceeded ₹12,000. - Benefit Trigger:
The benefit is provided only upon the death of the indigent artist.
Application Process
Offline
- Obtain the Application Form:
- Visit the office of the Commissioner of Art and Culture during office hours.
- Request the hard copy of the prescribed application form from the staff assigned to issue and collect filled-in applications.
- Fill Out the Form:
- Complete all mandatory fields.
- Paste a passport-size photograph (signed across, if required).
- Attach copies of all mandatory documents (self-attested, if required).
- Submit the Application:
- Submit the duly filled and signed form along with the required documents to the Commissioner at the Directorate of Art and Culture, Thendral, Dr. D.G.S. Dinakaran Road, Chennai – 600028.
- Receipt:
- Request a receipt or acknowledgment from the authority, ensuring it includes the date and time of submission and a unique identification number (if applicable).
Documents Required
- Photographs:
Three recent photographs of the legal heir, attested by the Tahsildar. - Specimen Signature:
A specimen signature of the incumbent. - Legal Heir Certificate:
A certificate verifying the legal heir status. - Proof of Relationship:
Documents establishing the relationship between the deceased and the applicant. - Income Certificate:
Certificate verifying the income limit. - Death Certificate:
Death certificate of the indigent artist. - Authorization Copy:
Copy of the authorization issued by the Accountant General. - Treasury Details:
Details regarding the last payment from the relevant Treasury. - Additional Documents:
Any other document required by the department.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where should the duly filled and signed application form be submitted?
It should be submitted to the Commissioner at the Directorate of Art and Culture, Thendral, Dr. D.G.S. Dinakaran Road, Chennai – 600028. - What is the income limit for the deceased artist or their legal spouse to be eligible for this scheme?
The annual income must not exceed ₹12,000. - What disciplines of art should the deceased artist have professionally served in?
The deceased should have contributed to at least one art discipline, such as music, dance, drama, film, or folk arts. - What is the amount of financial assistance provided under the scheme?
Eligible legal heirs receive ₹3,000 per month. - What are the age criteria for the deceased artist under this scheme?
The deceased should have been 58 years or older. - How long is the financial assistance provided to the legal heirs?
The scheme provides ongoing monthly assistance following the death of the artist. - Can legal heirs receive any other benefits or support under this scheme?
The scheme is specifically designed to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 and does not bundle other benefits. - Is there a specific timeframe within which applications must be submitted?
Applicants should submit the application as per the guidelines provided at the time of the artist’s death. - What is the process for obtaining the application form for this scheme?
The application form can be obtained directly from the office of the Commissioner of Art and Culture. - Can legal heirs of deceased artists who were not receiving financial assistance through the mentioned scheme still apply?
No, the scheme is exclusively for the legal heirs of those indigent artists who were already receiving financial assistance under the relevant scheme.