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The State Government has launched ‘Lok Prasar Prakalpa’ (LPP) in the year of 2014 with a view to revitalizing the Folk Arts of Bengal as well as ensuring a steady means of livelihood for the State’s folk artistes. Their talent is utilized in a coherent campaign to spread the developmental initiatives of the Government across the State and improving the socio-economic condition of the folk artistes. More than 1 lakh 94 thousand folk artistes have so far been registered to receive financial assistance in the form of Retainer Fees, Pension and Performance Fees.
Every registered folk artiste within the age group of 18 to 60 years receives Rs. 1000/- per month as ‘Retainer Fees’, whereas ‘Pension’ of equal amount is granted to the folk artistes for those who have crossed the age of 60 years. Besides, ‘Performance Fees’ @ Rs. 1,000/- per day is also provided to each artiste when such performance is called for. Retainers fees and Pension is being disbursed directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Jai Bangla Portal. Performance fees is also paid directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Treasuries of different Districts.
The enlisted folk artistes propagate different flagship programmes of the State Government such as Kanyashree, Rupashree, Sabuj Sathi, Duare Sarkar, ParaySamadhan, Manobik Pension etc through their performances. Besides they also campaign for creating awareness among the people on various public awareness issues like prevention of vector borne disease, digital ration cards etc. This project has brought tremendous enthusiasm among the folk artistes of Bengal by beckoning them from the abyss of oblivion to the glory of self-reliance.
State Government has introduced State Welfare Scheme for Purohits in 2020 in order to provide financial assistance @Rs. 1,500/- per month, for their livelihood considering their importance in social, cultural and community functions, taking into consideration that most of them are now in financially distressed condition.
So far, more than 28,000 beneficiaries have been included under this scheme till introduction and the monthly financial assistance is being disbursed directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Jai Bangla Portal.
It has been introduced with effect from 1stApril, 2018 to provide a monthly financial assistance @ Rs. 2500/- for the journalists who have attained 60 years of age and are facing acute financial hardship. So far, more than 160 journalists have been endowed with this benefit
State Government pays full premium for extending Group Health Insurance coverage, to around 7500 thousand of Cine and Television Artistes/ Technicians /Workers and their family members. The total number of beneficiaries is about 45 thousand. The State Government has enhanced the coverage under this scheme from Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs to cover the critical illnesses. The scheme also provides Rs.1 lakh Personal Accident coverage for the primary members. For 2022-23 initiative has been taken to continue the scheme which is under process. Projected annual premium would be of Rs. 2,02,96,287/- for procuring policy for 3,951 primary members. Total number of beneficiaries would be 23,706.
In order to provide financial assistance to aged and financially weaker artistes, the State Government provides the same under the Financial Assistance to distinguished persons of Arts and Letters. So far 115 aged artists including model have been provided monthly financial assistance under the Scheme.
In this era of multi-dimensional techno-based entertainment, we had almost lost our proud culture of Jatra. To infuse vitality into our cultural heritage, the State Government provides one-time financial assistance to distressed and aged Jatra artist @Rs. 25,000/- each.
With a view to providing social security to the pervasive yet unorganized sector of Cable TV distribution network, in 2018-19, the benefit of the State-funded ‘Swasthya Sathi' Health Insurance Scheme has been extended to all Cable TV Operators, Sub-operators, their workers and families. So far more than 20,000 numbers of primary members have been provided with the Swastha Sathi Card with total number of members are 50,000 approx. The total number of persons to be covered under the scheme is around 1 lakh 80 thousand.