M’laya presented as the go to place for filmmakers at state ministers’ conference in New Delhi
NEW DELHI: Meghalaya’s information and communications policy has evolved over the years to become effective and people-friendly that is suited to the changing times, said Minister for Information and Public Relations Ampareen Lyngdoh on Saturday.
“While formulating this policy and reviewing it over a period of time, the State has taken care of its demographic, cultural and geographical profile,” Lyngdoh said at the conference of state ministers organised by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in New Delhi on Saturday.
Inaugurating the conference, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu said the broad objective should be to enhance access to information and communications infrastructure and new technologies, especially in rural areas. “The policy should promote national dialogue on developmental issues by all citizens and facilitate informed participation of people in setting development agenda and its execution,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh added that “the Meghalaya Government continuously endeavours to improve its service by putting in place necessary infrastructure to ensure that people from every nook and corner of the State have access to timely information. By doing so, the government is giving a huge fillip to the growth and development of the State”.
“The Hill State has its own advertisement policy and as far as Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the State Government has notified the constitution of the State Monitoring Committees,” Lyngdoh said and added that over the years, Meghalaya’s panoramic landscape has been attracting filmmakers, both from within the country and abroad. She added that the government’s measures to promote Meghalaya as a coveted destination for filmmakers are on the lines of the NFDC’s endeavour to project filmmaking in India. A film policy is also on the anvil.
“The Government of Meghalaya has been in communication with the Film facilitation Office (FFO), East and North Eastern region Kolkata, on issues pertaining to guidelines for shooting of films in the State,” she added.
The Department of Information and Public Relations, in collaboration with the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been organising the Indian Panorama Festival in Shillong for the last four years.
Poor community radio stations in Williamnagar, Nongstoin
The minister, meanwhile, said at present coverage of the community radio station in Williamnagar is very poor. “Therefore, for wider coverage, there is a need to upgrade the community radio station in Williamnagar and even Nongstoin to local radio stations so that they can serve the community more effectively,” she said.
90% subsidy for starting community radio stations in NE
Meanwhile, aiming to give a boost to the community radio sector, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that 90 per cent subsidy will be provided for starting such stations in the northeastern states and 75 per cent in other states.
The community Radio Station is an extraordinary medium which disseminates information in localised content.
In his concluding remarks, Naidu also announced that a new dedicated Doordarshan channel for the northeastern states will come up in the first half of January. This channel will show the richness, variety and diversity of the local culture and seamlessly integrate these states with the rest of the country, he said.
Speaking about the Most Film Friendly State Award incorporated last year in the National Film Awards, Naidu said that states should focus on this new initiative as it would not only enhance revenue but also boost tourism. He also announced a cash component of Rs. 1 crore for the Most Film Friendly State Award.