Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at supporting artists, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a substantial increase in assistance under the “Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana” on Wednesday.
Under this scheme, beneficiaries will now receive Rs. 2000 per month, a significant increase from the previous amount of Rs. 1200 per month. Additionally, artists aged 80 and above will be entitled to Rs. 2500 per month, according to an official release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
This decision is set to benefit approximately 80,000 artists across the state, reflecting the Chief Minister’s commitment to promoting and supporting the vibrant artistic community. The announcement came following requests from artists during the visit of 5T & Nabin Odisha Chairman Kartik Pandian to various districts, where artist organizations presented their demands for increased assistance.
During an interaction with the 5T Chairman at the Convention Center of Lokseva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, artists highlighted the need for a boost in the assistance amount. Originally designed to aid 50,000 artists with a monthly stipend of Rs. 1200, the scheme has now been expanded to cover 80,000 artists, opening avenues for an additional 30,000 artists to benefit from the Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana.