By IANS,
New Delhi : Nearly 3,000 folk and traditional performance artists have been helped with financial aid in 2010-11 under a special scheme, the culture ministry said Wednesday.
The scheme benefits artists above 58 years of age with monthly incomes below Rs.4,000.
A statewise break-up of the outlay showed that 694 artists in Maharashtra had benefited from the assistance plan, followed by 492 in Karnataka and 300 in Andhra Pradesh.
In the northeast, which has a rich heritage of traditional folk cultures, 176 artists were provided financial aid.
The recipients were selected by an expert committee.
Kumari Selja, union minister of culture, housing and urban poverty alleviation, said the Sangeet Natak Akademi also supports folk art forms through several training, preservation and documentation schemes.
“In addition, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya organises exhibitions, workshops and symposia for the preservation of creative and performing arts and culture of the people of this country,” the minister said in a statement.