Palijo chairs Endowment Fund meeting: Rs 13.320m to be provided to 493 artists, writers, poets
By Masroor Afzal Pasha
KARACHI: The Sindh Culture Department will disburse Rs 13.320 million to 493 artists, writers and poets as a monthly stipend for the year 2010-11.
This was decided at a meeting of the stipend committee held under the chairmanship of Secretary Culture Department Abdul Aziz Uqaili at his office here on Wednesday.
Director General (DG) Culture Department briefed the participants about the availability of funds, total number of monthly stipend recipients, number of pending applications for monthly stipend and onetime financial assistance and other related matters.
The meeting was informed that the Sindh government had allocated Rs 16 million for the year 2010-11 for payment of monthly stipend and onetime financial assistance to the writers, poets, musicians, singers etc.
The DG informed that last year the stipend was granted to 410 artists, artisans and writers at Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per month as regular stipend holders. The stipend of artists, artisans and writers who died during the year is also allowed to their families as per decision. The Secretary Culture stressed the need to devise a transparent manner in the process of distribution of stipend to all deserving people.
The meeting also decided to consider new applications. The most deserving applicants had been allowed stipend of Rs 2,500 per month and other of Rs 2,000 per month.
Some cases could not be decided due to want of verification and completion of formalities. These would be finalised in next meeting.
Meanwhile, a meeting of Management Board for Endowment Fund for writers, poets and artists held under the chairmanship of Culture Minister Sassui Palijo here on Wednesday. The meeting discussed the terms and reference of the board to determine the investment policy. The meeting was also informed that in June 2010, the Sindh government had released Rs 100 million as seed money for the fund.
The culture department was in process of receiving the second and last installment of the seed money for the fund, amounting to Rs100 million.
It has also released Rs 1.5 million on emergent basis to the renowned poet and writer Tariq Alam Abro for his treatment abroad through a cheque delivered to him on Tuesday by the department.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/28/2011
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