Stepping up to the plate to help

KARACHI: Even though they have entertained the country for years, musicians, actors and other artists are often neglected by the government when it matters most - when they need funding for hospital bills.

Whether it is the renowned ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan or 1970s pop sensation Alamgir, who are both critically ill, the help they have received has been sporadic. Many artists have complained  while on their deathbed of the lack of support shown to them by successive governments.

However, the Sindh government is attempting to increase the number of artists it supports.

In 2008-2009, the provincial ministry of culture gave away Rs8 million to 390 ailing artists in Sindh, including Rs350,000 for Roshan Ata, Rs450,000 for Ahmad Khan Madhosh and Rs300,000 to Sarkash Sindhi.

The Sindh government increased the number of artists being supported in 2009-2010 to 401.

They receive an annual stipend of Rs18,000 and some artists have also received medical assistance.

Muhammad Ali Manjhi, the Director Culture for Sindh told The Express Tribune, “Families of artists such as Allan Faqir are being supported by the Sindh culture department.”

When asked whether there would be any support for Alamgir, Manjhi said, “The new endowment fund, which will be operating soon, will be a support for him.”

However, according to a source, “Alamgir is in better shape than before and does not require government funding, because he is now an American citizen.”

The source also said, “As far as talk goes of him being supported (by the government) on financial grounds, many artists like Bushra Ansari have performed at fund raisers to support him.”

According to the Secretary of Culture for Sindh, Shams Jafrani, an “endowment fund for poets, writers and artists in need” has been created and the fund has an “initial amount of Rs100 million which will be raised to Rs200 million.”

The allocated fund will begin disbursing money this July.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2010.