Many artists are now unemployed for Covid-19 lockdown and shutdown and are in dire straits. As opera and theater have been closed, many artists have been forced to give up their careers and are struggling for bread and butter. In such a situation, there is a demand to further expand the State Government’s artist assistance scheme.
The Chief Minister's Artist Assistance Scheme was launched in 2018 in order to honour the arts and provide financial assistance for their survival. While there are many artists in Jajpur district, with skills in various arts, not all the artists benefit from the Government scheme.
The artists are selected through the District Information and Public Relations Department. However, many artists have complained that there are flaws in selection of beneficiaries under the artist scheme. In 2016 the artists in Jajpur were selected from 10 blocks and two municipalities through auditions. They are being paid a monthly allowance of Rs 1,200.
Last year, the Government had paid a three-month advance allowance to artists for the Corona, while it paid a six-month allowance last week. But the problem is while Jajpur is said to be a district of artists, there are many artists and art institutions who have been bypassed by the scheme. While not all artists are able to participate in the first phase, there are demands to give them a chance to participate in the audition every year. In the district, 2003 artists have been identified, and to date, 1932 artists have received Government funding. Of the 2003 artists identified, 41 have been excluded due to various reasons including death.
According to the department, 314 artists from Bari, 275 from Badachana, 143 from Binjharpur, 54 from Danagadi, 14 from Dasarathpur, 14 from Dharamsala, 152 from Korei, 14 from Jajpur, 27 from Rasulpur, 26 from Sukinda, 160 from Jajpur municipality and 26 from Bailan are getting the benefit.
Still many artist families are living miserably. Some have changed over to other professions in the hard times of Covid-19. While the Government's outreach plan is effective, it is important to include the excluded ones in the artists scheme.