Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the expansion of the ‘Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana’ and to include 30,000 artisans in the flagship scheme of the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Department. The decision was made following proposals from artists and their organizations during the Chairman’s district visits related to the 5T initiative.
Under the existing scheme, 50,000 artists receive a monthly assistance of Rs 1,200 each. The recent decision to include an additional 30,000 beneficiaries brings the total number of artists benefiting from the scheme to 80,000.
Expressing the importance of folk arts and acknowledging artists as the torchbearers of language, literature, and culture, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik emphasized the pride that these arts bring to the state. The expansion of the scheme aims to encourage and support artists from various regions of Odisha, fostering the preservation, development, and promotion of the state’s rich artistic heritage. This move is expected to contribute to the overall enrichment of the art and culture of Odisha.