50,000 artistes to get Rs 1200 pension in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced monthly pension of Rs 1200 to 50,000 artistes in the state.

The state government has also relaxed the age limits of both the male and female artists to avail pension benefits with an aim to cover more persons under the welfare scheme.

Currently, 4000 artistes are getting Rs 1000 pension amount under Mukhya Mantri Kalakara Sahayata Yojana. Now, the state government enhanced the monthly pension for the artistes of the state to Rs 1, 200.

The Chief Minister said the age limit of the male artistes has been relaxed from 60 to 50 years of age while the age limit of the female artistes has been relaxed from 50 to 40 years of age.

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He said it has been decided to decentralise the allowance granting exercise for the larger interest of the artistes.

The district administration has been entrusted with the duty to select the artistes and disburse the pension.

Tourism and Culture Minister, Ashok Chandra Panda informed that at present nearly 4,000 artistes are getting the pension of Rs 1,200 per month and as per the fresh initiative another 50,000 artists will be covered in the State.