The Stage Artistes and Workers’ Association of Kerala (SAWAK) has announced that it will go on strike raising various demands, including release of pension for all artistes aged above 60 years.
SAWAK State president G. Vishakhan told a press conference here on Thursday that the association representing 36 collectives of artistes and others working on and off the stage will launch an agitation to press their demands.
Following the association’s protests in front of the Collectorates and Secretariat demanding revival of the disbursal of the monthly pension amount of Rs.1,000, the government was now forced to make a budget allocation of Rs.2 crore it, he said.
The pension had remained suspended over the past four months
The existing pension had been sanctioned in 2012 following the constant demand of the SAWAK, he added.
Though funds were allocated, all artistes aged above 60 would not be covered by the pension scheme as Cultural Welfare Board chairman G. Suresh Kumar had said that no new pension applications from artistes aged above 60 would be accepted, Mr. Vishakhan said. The chairman had informed that in the first phase the salary arrears of the department employees would be given and by April first week pension arrears would be settled, the SAWAK president said. It was also informed that pending applications for pension would be considered after that, he added.
Mr. Vishakhan said that the association had decided to launch agitation demanding pension scheme for all stage artistes above 60 years, improvement of efficiency of the welfare board office, district-level establishment of board offices, free travel in KSRTC buses and trains, and increasing the pension amount to Rs.3,500, among others.
He also said that the association would take necessary steps for providing documents of the applicants for pension, including life certificates. The artistes could contact him over phone 94461 66982, he said.
Pension has remained suspended for 4 months
No applications from artistes above 60 accepted
