Set up film institute in state, Chief Secretary urges Centre

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 9

Chief Secretary VC Pharka today urged the Centre to set up a film and animation institute in the state for promotion of film activities.

He was speaking at the two-day 28th State Information Minister’s Conference held in New Delhi today. Pharka further suggested that an MoU should be signed between the state governments and the Centre for organising film festivals to ensure proper coordination.

He also requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to consider providing assistance to the State on the lines of the assistance provided to special category states for promotion of film activities.

The Chief Secretary said a draft film policy was under the active consideration of the Himachal Pradesh Government and added that the Information and Public Relations Department had been notified as the nodal department to coordinate for facilitating film-making and related clearances.

He also urged the Union Ministry to prepare training modules to make various field-level officers and stakeholders aware about provisions of the various Acts and legislations that control television, cable and cinematography so that these could be implemented effectively across the state. He also suggested that these could be incorporated in the training programmes and syllabus of departmental examinations of officials concerned.

Union Secretary (Information and Broadcasting) Ajay Mittal said television and radio were very effective medium of entertainment as well as education. He said information and broadcasting activities could be strengthened with the cooperation and coordination of the Centre and the state governments.