Scheme To Provide Assistance To Students Seeking Education Outside Goa In Any Field Of Art And Culture

The scheme "Scheme To Provide Assistance To Students Seeking Education Outside Goa In Any Field Of Art And Culture" was launched by the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa. The scheme aims to encourage and give opportunity to the young talents in the State to excel their talent to reach the highest possible standard/merit under the guidance of a renowned teacher/artist outside the State. The scheme provides financial support to students seeking to get basic or advanced education/training in any field of Art and Culture, such as music, dance, theatre, fine arts, folk arts, or photography (fields of visual and performing art). The applications for this scheme are accepted when the Directorate of Art and Culture releases an advertisement/press note on local daily newspapers thereby inviting applications. The scheme shall remain in force up to 31st March 2027.

Financial Assistance

• Financial assistance is given to acquire basic or advanced education in any field of Art and Culture (like music, dance, theatre, fine arts, folk arts, photography, etc.) at State, National, and International levels.
• Maximum assistance up to ₹1,20,000/- is provided for acquiring education outside Goa or the actual cost of the education, whichever is less.
• Maximum assistance up to ₹3,00,000/- is provided for acquiring education outside India or the actual cost of the education, whichever is less.

Disbursement

• The committee may scrutinize and decide upon the quantum of assistance, from case to case, depending upon the nature of training, reputation of the Institution/Guru, and eligibility of the applicant.
• The assistance shall be disbursed by the Director of Art and Culture only after obtaining Government approval for the names selected by the Sub-Committee.

Conditions

• The student shall undergo training on full time or part time basis.
• The student must maintain 75 % attendance for the total course period or for one year period of the course (whichever is less). This shall not be applicable where there are regular examinations recognized by the University or Board or Government.
• The student can apply for assistance for a maximum of five years (initially for three years and upon review if showing progress, extended for two years).
• A review report of the student shall be taken every six months.
• The student shall be bound to present performance as and when asked by the Directorate of Art and Culture.
• The scholarship amount shall be recovered if the student fails to maintain 75% attendance (where applicable).
• The amount shall be recovered from the student if the course is not completed.

• The applicant must intend to seek advanced education in any field of Art and Culture, such as music, dance, theatre, fine art, folk art, photography, etc. (fields of visual and performing art).
• The applicant must seek this education outside Goa or outside India.
• The applicant should have outlined knowledge about the art form in which the education is desired.
• The applicant should be born in Goa.
• The applicant must be residing in Goa for a substantial period or at least for the last fifteen years to the date of application.
• The applicant shall not be above the age of thirty-five years.
• The applicant must be the only student per family applying under this scheme per financial year.
• The applicant’s annual family income must not cross the limit fixed by the Government from time to time.
• If the applicant is receiving a grant or scholarship from any other Government or non-Government bodies for the training, the total amount raised from different sources must be less than the actual cost of the education.

Relaxation/Exception

• The application to seek training outside Goa shall be considered for assistance in exceptional cases wherein not even the basic education is available in a particular field of art within Goa.
• In rare cases, a second application in the same family, but in a different stream of art to that of the first, may be considered depending upon his/her contribution or merit. The decision regarding this exception is to be taken by the committee.

Offline

Step 1: Notification of Application Cycle

• The Directorate of Art and Culture releases an advertisement or press note on local daily newspapers, officially inviting applications from eligible students for availing benefits under this scheme.
• Applicants are advised to monitor the local daily newspapers for the release of this advertisement, as it signals the official opening of the application window.

Step 2: Submission of Application and Supporting Documentation

• Interested students shall prepare all the requisite supporting documents and formally apply directly to the Director of Art and Culture.
• This submission package must comprehensively include the applicant's photograph, age proof (birth certificate or school leaving certificate), residence certificate, reports of previous training and competition participation, income certificate, and a recommendation letter from a recognized person or Institution working in the field of Art and Culture.

Step 3: Disclosure of Personal Contribution and External Grants

• The application requires the student to clearly mention the amount of contribution or capital that they are personally putting forth for the particular course they are undertaking.
• Furthermore, if the student is receiving any grant or scholarship from other Government or non-Government bodies for the same training, a document in that regard, along with the detailed breakdown of the financial grants, must be submitted while applying for assistance.

Step 4: Scrutiny and Recommendation by Sub-Committee

• The application and supporting documentation will be processed and reviewed by the designated Sub-Committee.
• This committee is responsible for scrutinizing the application, assessing the eligibility of the applicant, the nature of the training, and the reputation of the Institution or Guru to decide upon the quantum of assistance to be recommended.

Step 5: Obtaining Government Approval and Fund Disbursement

• Once recommendations are officially received from the Sub-Committee, the Director of Art and Culture shall proceed to obtain the necessary Government approval for the names of the students selected for assistance under the scheme.
• Following this formal approval, the Director shall then disburse the sanctioned amount of assistance to the eligible students.