SIFAA to give welfare aid to elderly actors

Chennai: The South Indian Film Artistes Association, known as Nadigar Sangam in Tamil Nadu, on Sunday  decided to provide monetary aid to its members who are over 60  years and in need of such support.   

Out of the 3500 members of SIFAA, the personal details  related to 2500 persons have been enumerated, vice president,  SIFAA, Ponvannan told reporters here after its 62nd general  council meet of the association here.   

Stating that 600 members were more than 60 years, he  said it has been decided in the meet to give a monthly  monetary aid of Rs 2,000 to those who were over 80 years and Rs 1,000 to members who were more than 60 years.   

It has also been decided to take special care of  about 100 differently-abled members through exclusive support  schemes, he said flanked by president Nasser and General  Secretary Vishal and treasurer Karthi. To ensure higher education for 117 children of members  who will pass out of 12th standard this year, arrangements  have been made with the help of private sponsors (colleges),  he said.   

“Everything, from pensions (for actors), welfare  schemes and the topic over construction of new building (at  Nadigar Sangam premises here) were discussed,” he said. President Nasser said the general council has given  its “100 per cent nod” to raise funds for a new building for  the Sangam here.   As part of efforts to raise funds, in the first phase,  a celebrity cricket tournament will be held here next month,  he said.  

“Construction work for the new building is likely to  begin by end of next month after the fund raiser event,” he  said.   The state of the art new building will include a large  auditorium and a hall to enable holding functions for the  families of members, he said.