As the number of artistes who play instruments like saxophone, mandolin, flute and veena were few, creating a separate welfare board would serve no purpose, the counter said. Instead, nagaswaram, thavil, clarinet, and mridangam artistes could register themselves with the welfare board meant for folk artistes, it added.

The counter pointed out that 35,365 such artistes were registered with the Folk Artistes’ Welfare Board. Various welfare measures were being provided to them and their families, including education loan, accident relief, marriage loan and Rs 2,000 pension to artistes who attain 58 years.

To aid the artistes who lost livelihood because of the lockdown, 24,736 of them were given Rs 2,000 each in two instalments, the counter noted.

Tamil Nadu Isai Vellalar Ilaigner Peravai, had moved the plea seeking for a direction to the government to provide COVID relief and create a separate board for thavil, talam, mridangam, flute, and veena players, and Bharatanatyam performers, instead of the present practice of making them part of the welfare board for folk artistes.

The plea had contended that their livelihood rested on them performing at marriage functions and temple ceremonies. But due to the prolonged lockdown, they were struggling economically. The plea is being heard by a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha.