Financial Assistance for encouraging production of Traditional Khell-Tiatr

What is the Khell-Tiatr assistance scheme?

Financial Assistance for encouraging production of Traditional Khell-Tiatr is Scheme No. 12 of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), an academy under the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa.

Khell-Tiatr is a folk musical drama of Goa. TAG's scheme text states there is an urgent need to preserve this folk drama, and that in order to encourage dramatic troupes and individuals to produce Khell-Tiatrs of better quality, TAG has formulated this scheme. The scheme is therefore a preservation measure aimed at a specific traditional form, and it is deliberately strict about what counts as the traditional format.

The assistance combines three things: money towards staging four shows, a venue: either an auditorium or hall provided by TAG, or funding for a temporary pandal in a village, and a video recording made by TAG for its library, one free copy of which goes to the applicant.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

You can apply if:

• You are a dramatic troupe or an individual producing Khell-Tiatrs, and you fulfil the conditions laid down in the scheme. The application form also names registered associations and educational institutions.
• The Khell-Tiatr you produce is a new or old script conforming to the traditional format described in the scheme.
• You can give the proposal at least 30 days in advance, with all details of the programme, a typed copy of the script and the lyrics, and the names of the artistes.
• You are willing to stage all shows free of charge to the public.
• You can submit self-attested copies of your Aadhaar and PAN cards with the application.

You cannot claim the assistance if:

• The Khell-Tiatr contains adverse remarks, written or verbal, against any Government, individual or institution, or anything against a person's caste, creed or religion which may lead to hurting religious sentiments. If proved, TAG reserves the right to disqualify the performance, refrain from making payment, or recall a payment already made.
• The production does not conform to the traditional format, the story structure, the canto count or the band composition.
• The shows are ticketed. All shows must be shown to the public free of charge.
• The duration is less than two hours excluding the interval.
• The proposal was not given 30 days in advance.

What counts as the traditional format?

The scheme defines the traditional format precisely, and this is the clause most applicants get wrong:

• A Khell-Tiatr is one in which just one story flows from beginning to end, with an interval of 10 to 15 minutes in between.
• A Khell-Tiatr has 12 to 14 cantos which are related to the theme of the play. Out of these, at least 7 cantos should be of an interactive nature.
• The band should include at least two blowing instruments, one keyboard, one bass guitar and a drum set.
• The duration of the khell-tiatr should be not less than two hours, excluding the interval.

What assistance is given?

TAG does not publish a rupee amount for any element of this scheme. The extent of assistance for staging and for the temporary pandal is fixed by TAG, which means a producer should confirm the current figure with the TAG office before budgeting.

The videographer is appointed by TAG. The troupe has freedom to use the DVD in any manner, but the dramatic troupe cannot make use of the TAG logo on that DVD.

How to apply for Khell-Tiatr assistance

1. Prepare the Khell-Tiatr in the traditional format; one story from beginning to end, an interval of 10 to 15 minutes, 12 to 14 cantos related to the theme with at least 7 interactive, and a band with at least two blowing instruments, one keyboard, one bass guitar and a drum set.
2. Plan four shows and fix the tentative dates, times and places.
3. Collect the prescribed application form for Scheme No. 12 from the Tiatr Academy of Goa office, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji.
4. Fill in the form, the name of the individual, registered association, dramatic troupe or educational institution, address, contact number, PAN card number, Aadhaar card number, the name of the Khell-Tiatr, the tentative schedule of the four stagings with date, time and place, and the names of the writer and the director.
5. Attach the proposal at least 30 days in advance, giving all details of the programme — a typed copy of the script and of the lyrics, including the names of the artistes, and the list of participants on a separate sheet.
6. Attach self-attested copies of the Aadhaar and PAN cards, and sign the declarations that you will abide by the scheme rules, that the khell-tiatr is according to the traditional format, that the script and lyrics are attached, and that you agree the cheque will be issued in the name at Sr. No. 1 of the form.
7. Discuss and fix the Chief Guest with TAG well in advance. The President or Vice President of TAG will be the Chief Guest or Guest of Honour at the function.
8. Announce the collaboration. In all advertisements, oral, print or electronic media, banners and the like, the line "This programme is held in collaboration with Tiatr Academy of Goa" must be inserted, published or announced.
9. Stage all shows free of charge to the public.
10. Submit a statement of expenditure enclosing all original bills to TAG after the shows, with a stamped receipt where the amount exceeds Rs 5,000, and send 5 photographs of the function to TAG for records, two of which must show TAG's banner during the performance.

Can the producer raise sponsorship?

Yes. The scheme states that TAG has no objection if some sponsorship is taken by the producer from other sources. What is not permitted is charging the audience; all shows must be free to the public.

Why claims are rejected

• Proposal given less than 30 days in advance. Both the scheme norm and the form's note repeat this requirement.
• Format not met. A story that does not run through, fewer than 12 or more than 14 cantos, fewer than 7 interactive cantos, a band missing a blowing instrument, keyboard, bass guitar or drum set, or a running time under two hours excluding the interval.
• Ticketed shows.
• No original bills, or a receipt above Rs 5,000 without a stamp.
• Photographs not sent, or none showing the TAG banner during the performance.
• Collaboration line not announced in publicity or before the performance.
• Missing Aadhaar or PAN copy, or a mismatch between the name at Sr. No. 1 of the form and the person to be paid, since the cheque is issued in that name.
• Adverse or communal content, which can lead to disqualification, refusal of payment or recall of a payment already made.

Where to ask questions

The Tiatr Academy of Goa is at AS-1 / AS-4, Block A, 2nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, opposite Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji, Goa 403001. The telephones are 0832-2230738 and 0832-2230739, and the email is tiatracademy@gmail.com. The full scheme text and application form are published on the Schemes of TAG page at tiatracademyofgoa.com.

The scheme is signed by the President and the Member Secretary of the Academy and states that TAG reserves the right to make any changes in the rules, so check the current PDF before planning a production around it.

How to check your application status

This scheme runs entirely offline, so there is no online portal, tracking number or SMS update for Scheme No. 12. The Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) does not list an application-tracking page at its site (tiatracademyofgoa.com/schemes-of-tag), it only lists the scheme details and the form. Once you have submitted the proposal, checking progress means following up with the TAG office directly.

• Call the TAG office. Use the listed numbers, 0832-2230738 or 0832-2230739, and quote the name of the Khell-Tiatr, the applicant's name and the date the proposal was submitted, so the office can locate the file quickly.
• Visit in person. TAG's office is at Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji. Since the proposal has to reach TAG at least 30 days before the first show, a visit a week or two after submission is a reasonable point to ask whether the format and documents have been found in order.
• Ask about three things specifically: whether the traditional-format details (cantos, band composition, duration) in your script have been accepted, whether TAG has assigned an auditorium, hall or approved the temporary pandal for a village show, and whether a videographer date has been fixed for the recording.
• After the shows, follow up the same way on the statement of expenditure and original bills you submitted. Since payment is released against that statement, a delay usually means a bill or the stamped receipt for amounts above Rs 5,000 is missing or under query, so ask the office to confirm your bills were received complete.
• Keep your own acknowledgment. Since there is no digital receipt, get an acknowledgment (a stamped or signed copy of your submission, or a written note of the date TAG received it) at the time you hand in the proposal and again when you submit the post-show statement of expenditure, so you have proof of the date if a status query is disputed.