Elderly artisans nationwide have waited for years to be recognized by the government, though many are now dead and others are in poor health or are destitute.

A large number of veteran artisans have passed away, while the few remaining ones are clinging feebly to life in sheer poverty. It is unlikely that they will make it to the day when they are granted the title “meritorious artist” and “People’s artist” despite their unrivalled talents and massive contribution to their crafts or art.

Pah, a village patriarch in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, is highly revered among the Ba Na ethnic minority community as an exceptional epic story teller. The epic pieces he has recited have been printed in a thousand-page book in both Vietnamese and English.

Pah, 70, has suffered debilitating cirrhosis for several years and is left uncared for in his shabby house. His last wish is to be granted the recognition.

Similarly, Gang, from Kong Chro commune, who is widely popular for his remarkable ‘hoamon’ (Ba Na epic) reciting skills and co-authoring several bilingual epic books, owned only a pair of pants until his death.

The number of such artisans throughout the province has dropped from 116 some 10 years ago to less than 10 now. Several of them are now too frail to perform epic recitations, which takes several nights at least, or even half a month.

Despite their destitution, the remaining artisans are willing to perform all night long for free, as they consider performing a divine task they’re assigned to by their gods.

However, the artisans’ wait is ongoing, as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently asked for an extension on the June 2013 deadline for submitting the draft decree on granting the seasoned artisans the titles to the Prime Minister.

The lengthy wait means that the government’s treatment policies towards the artisans, including medical insurance, remain seriously inadequate.

The delay is partly put down to the complicated procedures, including requesting the senile artisans to list all their activities, which span decades.

This is the very first time that the government has considered granting an official title to artisans.