Chandigarh [India], May 22 (HBTV): The Haryana Government has launched a new scheme titled Pandit Lakhmi Chand Kalakar Samajik Samman Yojana to support senior artists and art scholars who have significantly contributed to the field of art during their active years or who, due to age, are no longer actively participating.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the State Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday.

Under the scheme, eligible artists will receive a monthly honorarium of INR 10,000 as financial support from the government.

Any resident of Haryana who has worked or contributed in the field of art for at least 20 years — in areas such as singing, acting, dance, drama, painting, or other forms of visual arts — will be eligible under the scheme.

Applications submitted during the years 2020–21 and 2021–22 (excluding the COVID-19 period) will be considered mandatory. Applicants must also submit supporting documents and press clippings along with their applications, according to an official release.

The applicant must be at least 60 years of age, as verified through the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP). Those whose PPP reflects an annual income of up to INR 1.80 lakh from all sources will receive INR 10,000 per month. Applicants with annual incomes between INR 1.80 lakh and INR 3 lakh will be eligible for a monthly honorarium of INR 7,000, the release added.

The prescribed application form for the scheme will be available online, and artists must apply through the official website to avail of the benefit.

Following preliminary scrutiny and verification by the department, all eligible applications will be reviewed by a special committee constituted by the department.

The committee will evaluate the applications according to the current guidelines of the scheme, considering both the financial status and artistic contributions of the applicants. The final list of beneficiaries eligible for the honorarium will be prepared solely on the basis of merit.

(ANI)