Chairman Regmi assures funds to film artistes

KATHMANDU, July 25:Chairman of the Interim Election Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi, has informed that the government will provide amount to the Film Artistes Welfare Revolving Fund this year, too, as in the past.



The then Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, had provided Rs. 10 million each to the Fund. Now, it has an amount of Rs. 34 million, of which, four million was collected from film artists.[break]



A delegation led by cine artiste Basundhara Bhusal met with Chairman Regmi at Singha Durbar on Thursday and demanded that the incumbent government should provide Rs. 10 million to the Fund.



Chairman Regmi said that the government would also provide the amount to the Fund as before, said Bhusal quoting Regmi.



The Fund was established seven years ago under the coordination of the Film Development Board to provide financial support to artists in times of difficulties through the Fund.



Singer Udit Narayan Jha, who was recently in Nepal, his home country, also provided Rs. 500,000 to the Fund.





Chairman of the Board, Dharmendra Marbeta, said that the Fund was established to provide financial support to artistes in times of difficulties.



The Fund recently has provided Rs. 200,000 to artist Shiva Regmi, who is undergoing treatment of both kidneys at Om Hospital as well as Rs. 200,000 to artist Arjun Karki, who successfully climbed Mt. Everest recently.



Karki had injuries on his nine fingers in course of climbing Mt. Everest.

Artist Karishma Manandhar said that the main purpose of the Fund is to provide some support to artists falling ill as economic condition of most artists is very weak.



She said Chairman Regmi was not only worried after listening their pains but also informed to address their demands immediately. The Fund has been providing Rs. 5,000 as monthly support to artists who are undergoing treatment suffering from different diseases.



They are Hari Prasad Rimal, Jayananda Thakur, Pawan Mainali, Deepak Dhakal, Deepak Chhetri, Uddavraj Bhattarai, Subhadra Adhikari and Bhuwan Chand, said Spokesperson of the Board, Anupam Niroula.



Meanwhile, Civil Service Family Association also met Chairman Regmi today.

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