As many as 1,862 artists, including 140 women, of Puri district will avail monthly pension of Rs 1,200 each.
Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Kalakar Bhatta Yojana,’ the beneficiaries will get pension between15 to 20 of every month. An amount Rs 44, 68,800 has been sent to the local culture offices, which will be distributed among beneficiaries through ‘Peetha’ programme in each block and panchayat. Besides district culture officials, the local representatives will participate the Peetha programme and offer pension. In the ensuing month, artists will get two-months' pension, a release by district administration informed.
The release said that while 53 artists, including three women in Astaranga block will avail pension, of total 66 including nine women shortlisted from Kakatpur area. In Nimapara out of total 254 beneficiaries, five are women. In Puri Sadar, 186 persons including 49 women will be given pension. Similarly, in Satyabadi, 93 including two women will be benefited and in Pipili 175 artists, including a woman, are in pension scheme.
In Brahamgiri 179 artists were shortlisted of whom seven are women.
The number for Krusnaprasad block is 208 of which three are women. In Kanas of total 289, while 23 are women, 134 including six women belong to Gop block. In Delanga, 122 artists including two females will be availing pension. In Puri Municipality, 13 males and 29 females will get the benefit.
This apart, 14 persons belonging to Konark NAC, one in Pipili NAC and four including a woman in Nimapara NAC have been shortlisted for pension, informed the release.