 bill no  4 of 2008 the sculptors,  artists and artisans of rural areas welfare bill, 2008 byshri hansraj gangaramji ahir, mp a billto provide for the welfare of sculptors, artists and artisans in rural areas and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the fifty-ninth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the sculptors, artists and artisans of rural areas welfare act, 2008short title, extent and commencement(2) it extends to the whole of india (3) it shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, appointdefinitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "artisan" means any person engaged in making useful, decorative or artistic items manually from leaves or weeds or bamboo or any other material by traditional means in rural areas for earning his livelihood;(b) "artist" means any person who earns his livelihood by performing arts including music, dance, drama, play, singing to entertain public or displaying of his paintings or artistic skill to public in rural areas;(c) "board" means the national sculptors, artists and artisans of rural areas welfare board set up under section 4;(d) "fund" means the national sculptors, artists and artisans of rural areas welfare fund set up under section 3;(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act; and (f) "sculptor" means any person engaged in carving of statues or making of decorative pieces or any other useful items from clay, cement, stone or any other material in rural areas for earning his livelihood3 (1) the central government shall set up a fund to be known as the national sculptors, artists and artisans welfare fundsetting up of the sculptors, artists & artisans welfare fund(2) the central government and state government shall contribute to the fund in such proportion, as may be prescribed4 (1) the central government shall set up a board to be known as the national sculptors, artists and artisans of rural areas welfare boardsetting up of national sculpters, artists and artisans of rural areas welfare board(2) the board shall consist of following members, namely:—constitution of the board(a) the union textile minister who shall be its chairman, ex-officio;(b) five members representing the non-governmental organisations working for the welfare of sculptors, artists and artisans in rural areas, to be appointed by the central government; and(c) five members representing the sculptors, artists and artisans in rural areas, to be appointed by the central government (3) the salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, members of the board shall be such as may be prescribed by the central governmentfunctions of the board5 the board shall administer the fund for the welfare of sculptors,  artists and artisans of rural areas and including the following purposes, namely:—(a) payment of compensation to the next of kin of the sculptors, artists and artisans in the event of death during work;(b) payment of premium for life insurance; (c) payment of old age pension; (d) payment of disability allowance; (e) provision of free health care facility to sculptors, artists and artisans and their family members;(f) housing facility at subsidized rate; and (g) financial assistance for sculptors, artists and artisans, production andmarketing of their products and organization and advertisement of eventsannual report6 the board shall submit every year a report, in such form as may be prescribed, of its development activity to the central governmentpower to make rules7 the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this act statement of objects and reasonsthe sculptors, artists and artisans working in the rural areas are living in a miserable condition the benefits of development have not reached them in the age of globalisation and information technology, it has become very difficult for these people to earn their livelihood several generations of these sculptors, artists and artisans have spent their whole life to keep alive these traditional arts and for providing other useful articles and entertainment to the community despite public recognition, these people are not able to meet the both ends due to meagre incomein rural areas, the traditional folk arts are popular means of entertainment but with the invasion of television, it is increasingly becoming difficult for them to earn their livelihood even today, these people are engaged in preserving our traditional art government should come forward to provide assistance to these folk artists so that they can lead a dignified lifein view of the miserable condition of these artists, it is the duty of the government to provide social security and other financial assistance to them by formulating and implementing appropriate policies for their welfarethe bill seeks to achieve the above objectivesnew delhi;november 14, 2007     hansraj gangaramji ahir financial memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for setting up of a fund to be known as the national fund for the welfare of sculptors, artists and artisans in the rural areas clause 4 of the bill provides for setting up of a board to administer the national fund for the welfare of sculptors, artists and artisans in the rural areas therefore, the bill, if enacted, would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is likely to involve an annual recurring expenditure of rupees five hundred crorea non-incurring expenditure of about rupees five hundred crore is also likely to be involved memorandum regarding delegated legislationclause 7 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the billas the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto provide for the welfare of sculptors, artists and artisans in rural areas and for matters connected therewith————(shri hansraj gangaramji ahir, mp)mgipmrnd—152ls—(s-5)—6022008