Deputy director of Manipur Art and Culture department G Dharmadas Sharma on Saturday stated that the scrutiny process for funds under ‘Chief Minister gee Artists ki Tengbang (CMAT)’ scheme has become more meticulous as the competition among qualified applicants are becoming tougher.
He was speaking at the closing of the workshop cum production of the theatre play ‘When the sun sets’ organised by Manipuri Ensemble under the aegis of department of Art and Culture at JN Manipur Dance Academy. The workshop had been organised under the scheme of Chief Minister gee Artists ki Tengbang (CMAT).
He maintained that the department had also posted the rejected candidates list of CMAT scheme starting this year with the reason of rejection given on the side. This new step will ensure transparency and eradicate confusion among candidates, he added.
“The department had to initiate new measures in the scrutiny as the number of applicants had increased; starting from official supporting documents to personal bank details, everything was checked in this year’s CMAT selection,” he said.
Dharmadas stated that CMAT was started in 2020 to provide financial aid to registered Art and Culture organisations that had been actively working for more than 25 years. However, he pointed out that this regulation was changed and now, registered organisations who had been actively working for more than three years can also apply for CMAT.
“Although there is no increase in the budget, financial aid is provided for both categories separately to help with their productions,” he added.
He highlighted that this was the primary reason the scrutiny had become more meticulous.
“As the fund is not big we cannot help each and every artist of Manipur, so we have to rely on careful examination of each and every applicant,” he noted.
Dharmadas highlighted that CMAT listed various measures to resolve plights faced by various artists of the state which include individual pensions for artistes, funds to procure instruments, funds for workshops and productions among others.
He further claimed that some artistes who had received the funds previously did not utilise the funds properly and squandered it on personal activities. Although the fund is not big it should be used to exhort the growth of art and culture, he added.
As such he exhorted future applicants to properly utilize the funds for their respective art.
Chairman of Cultural Workers and Activists Forum (CWAF) Manipur Budha Chingtham, Manipur Theatre Academy director Sarungbam Beeren among others attended the closing function.
