The Odisha government has announced a significant hike in the monthly allowance for traditional folk artistes, reinforcing its commitment to preserving the state’s rich cultural heritage. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the announcement while addressing the 48th State Level Pala Sammilani held in Keonjhar, a major cultural gathering celebrating the traditional folk art form of Pala.

Under the revised structure of the Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana, artistes between the ages of 40 and 80 years will now receive a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000, an increase from the earlier Rs 2,000. For senior artistes above the age of 80, the allowance has been raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 per month. This decision is expected to benefit more than 47,000 registered traditional artists across Odisha, many of whom have dedicated their lives to keeping folk traditions alive.

The Chief Minister highlighted the immense contribution of Pala to the protection and promotion of the Odia language and culture. He described Pala as a unique blend of music, storytelling, dance and spontaneous poetry that draws deeply from Odisha’s spiritual, literary and intellectual traditions. According to Majhi, Pala has played a vital role in preserving Odia folk literature and passing it down through generations of devoted performers.

Majhi also noted that Pala has historically functioned as a powerful medium for social reform and awareness. Through its narratives and performances, it has helped combat superstition, social inequality and ignorance while spreading messages of truth, compassion, ethics and moral values among the masses.

Encouraging the younger generation, the Chief Minister urged students and researchers pursuing higher education in Odia language and culture to undertake more in depth research on this great folk art form. He expressed confidence that increased academic and cultural interest among youth would ensure a brighter future for Pala and other traditional art forms of Odisha.

During the event, Mohan Charan Majhi was honoured with the prestigious Odia Asmita Samman in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening Odisha’s cultural identity and supporting traditional artistes.

The state level conference was organised by Maa Tarini Pala Kalakar Sangha and witnessed enthusiastic participation from renowned Pala singers and troupes representing almost all districts of Odisha. The announcement of the allowance hike was widely welcomed by the artist community, marking a significant step towards social security and dignity for traditional folk performers in the state.