I&B ministry to formulate national communication policy

New Delhi: The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry on Saturday said that the government is planning to formulate a national communication policy in an effort to enhance access and dissemination of information across the country.

“We are preparing a draft and once the draft is finalised, it will be communicated to all the states. We will be endorsing it at a national-state information ministers’ conference,” said M.Venkaiah Naidu, minister of I&B, speaking at the state information ministers conference (SIMCON).

Naidu further added that the policy will be finalized in consultation with the states. “The focus and the agenda of the policy is development of the nation. We will be inviting the views of the states,” Naidu reiterated.

Earlier in September, the minister had conveyed government’s intentions to form a communication policy to ensure timely and orderly communication of information, while speaking at the regional editors’ conference.

SIMCON is being organized after seven years on the theme—‘Reform, Perform & Transform–A New Dimension of Communication’. This is the 28th edition of the conference.

The key issues discussed in the conference include facilitation of film shooting in the country, film tourism, copyright and piracy issues, roadmap for digitization of cable TV, community radio and Supreme Court directions on government advertisements and future course of action in this regard among other things.

Additionally, Naidu said that the government will provide a “most film-friendly state” award to one state every year, from 2016 onwards. “We have to encourage entertainment. Entertainment cinema can be a great communicator,” he said, adding that this award of Rs1 crore will be provided on the basis of facilitation of film shoots by different states.

The ministry has also announced a 90% subsidy for North-Eastern states and 75% subsidy for other states for setting up of community radio stations in the country.

In November, the government had set up a film promotion fund under which it will be providing financial aid to the movies (for promotional activities) selected in the competition section of any international film festival, including India’s official nomination for the Academy Awards.