Too little too late

It was announced last week that the president of Pakistan by sanctioning a certain amount for the support of certain artistes has conjointly set up a welfare fund of sorts for artistes in need.

Such announcements are made from time to time but then the news fizzles out till the next such announcement catches the headlines. It can be said with certainty that all the funds established previously have failed because whenever an artist falls ill, a cry of help goes out. At times, it is reciprocated in full glare of the media, thus politically capitalising on it.

In the last tenure of the Punjab Government, one such announcement was made and the artistes were supposed to feel relieved that a step has been taken to look after them. In the centre, in 2011, the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had announced the setting up of a fund for artistes to meet with emergency situations in case of some ailment or accident.

One knows for sure that the national, provincial and divisional arts councils too have their quota of funds for the said purpose. Similarly, organisations like the Lok Virsa, Academy of Letters, television and radio etc. make some allocations towards this end. Then, many other bodies working under quasi-governmental control have certain funds set aside for welfare activities.

All this is supposed to reflect the government’s concern for the artistes. Too many departments, too few allocations, the figures just whittle down to nothing. Perhaps there should be a more coordinated if not a more centralised system to be effective.

If all the reports and announcements about allocations are added up, it may seem that massive allocations made already for the said purpose are really sufficient and the artistes do not really have to worry at all. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The sums set aside are more a jugglery of figures than actual monetary allocations.

In the private sector too, there have been many organisations that offer help to the artistes. The most known was the BCCI Foundation that even met the medical bills of medical treatment abroad. Alas this is now all in the past. There are certainly many more that extend help, though not on the same scale. The requirement is to make such funds public knowledge so that artistes or the relevant quarters are aware of such avenues. Since these are not public knowledge, they are either not used or that they are used selectively. Deserving artistes rarely have access to such information.

The execution of a government policy should not be flashed as breaking news by the media egged on by the relevant department in the government. There may be nothing wrong with making announcements and issuing statements but the proof of the pudding lies in its eating. It has to be followed up by solid steps towards its implementation .Like many other government steps these are reworded, rephrased, reinvented and given the impression of a new initiative. The same projects have been initiated or inaugurated by various presidents, prime ministers, ministers that it appears to be an affront to the memory of the common man. Bhasha Diamir Dam has its foundation laid so many times by successive presidents, prime ministers, ministers that it isn’t true. Or as it has happened in the Railways that the same train was renamed according to the days of the week, the first two days it carried one name, on the third and fourth another and the last three days yet another with the minister boasting that he had increased the number of passenger trains threefolds.

There is just one clause in these announcements that is worrisome. It is stated that the artistes in need should apply for monetary assistance; only then will their cases be considered on merit. This should be changed at the very outset because one thing which the artistes are supposed to have is ego, self respect and dignity. He or she should not be reduced to the level of one seeking help and charity. Some other mechanism should be evolved so that the artistes really in need get the help without extending a begging bowl.

The various departments of the government like the Directorate of Public Relations, the various arts councils in the various provinces and the cities can be entrusted with the task of finding out and enlisting as to who is more deserving of help. In any case, these bodies are aware of the economic conditions of the artistes as they are constantly in touch with them. Concerned citizens and fellow artistes can also identify cases and recommend.

The scope of the fund should be extended as a last resort to hold the hand of one drowning; it could also be for the promotion and sponsorship of what the artiste is creating. If it is done to assist him in his work, the possibility is that he will be able to look after him as well being able to make a living or raising the required level of pubic support. Recording of music numbers, publication of books, holding of exhibitions and staging of plays can be the promotional side that needs to be strengthened. It will inspire the artiste to create more if he knows that there is a mechanism in place to take his lafz, sur, mudra or nuqsh to the audience.