In a major move to safeguard Odisha’s cultural heritage, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an increase in monthly allowance for folk and traditional art performers under the Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced this while inaugurating the 48th state-level ‘Pala’ conference in Keonjhar on Sunday evening.
As per the revised allowance, a traditional art performer, including those engaged in ‘Pala’ play aged between 40 and 80 years will now receive Rs 3,000 per month from the previous monthly assistance of Rs 2,000.
The performers, similarly, above 80 years of age will get Rs 3,500 monthly allowance, up from Rs 2,500, CM Majhi said.
The initiative is set to benefit 47,704 artistes across the state. The revised scheme aims to provide much-needed financial security and recognition to performers in traditional arts like ‘Pala’ and other cultural forms.
କେନ୍ଦୁଝରର ପାର୍କଲେନଠାରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ୪୮ତମ ବାର୍ଷିକ ରାଜ୍ୟସ୍ତରୀୟ ପାଲା ସମ୍ମିଳନୀରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ସାରସ୍ୱତ ଐତିହ୍ୟ ଓ ଜନଜୀବନ ସହ ଓତପ୍ରୋତ ଭାବେ ଜଡ଼ିତ 'ପାଲା' କେବଳ ଏକ ଲୋକକଳା ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଏହା ଆମ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ଓ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅସ୍ମିତାର ଏକ ଜୀବନ୍ତ ପରିଚୟ। ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଓଡ଼ିଆ କାବ୍ୟ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସାଧାରଣ ଜନତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ… pic.twitter.com/rI51iKxWdK
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) December 28, 2025
The enhanced allowances are designed to protect and promote Odia cultural identity, with the chief minister emphasising the vital role artistes play in preserving the state’s heritage.
“This increase is a tribute to the dedication of our artistes who safeguard and propagate our rich traditions,” Majhi stated during the event.
“Preserving such a rich folk art and working towards its development is the responsibility and duty of all of us,” the CM said.
CM Majhi said the contribution of ‘Pala’ is significant for the preservation and promotion of the Odia language. He further thanked the Pala artistes for keeping alive Odia folk literature since generations.
‘Pala’ is a traditional art form which involves a chief performer (the gayak) who uses storytelling, music, dance, and drama to narrate episodes from the Ramayan, Mahabharat, and other local epics.
He or she mostly narrates Hindu epics and myths, often featuring topics from Mahabharat, Ramayan and epics from Odisha.
The state government, in the early 90s, started using ‘Pala’ as a medium of disseminating social messages and creating health awareness among the people, an official said.
