Lok Sabha Question No. 1120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: 28th State Information Ministers Conference
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. lLzO TO BE ANSWERED ON OA.O2.2OI7

## 28th STATE INFOR}IATION  MINISTERS' CONFERENCE

l1l2f,. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA; SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN; SHRI S.R VIIAYAKUMAR;  SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO; SHRI GAJANAN KIRTII(AR; SHRI KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH; DR. SUNIL BATIRAJTI  GNI(WAD.

Will the Minister of INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING  be pleased  to state:-

[a)  Whether the 28th State Information Ministers' Conference  was held recently in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi and if so, the details thereof;

[b)  The details of State representatives who attended the said conference, StateAJT  wise;

(c) The details of issues discussed  along with the outcome thereof;  and

(d) The steps taken/being taken by the Govt. to promote partrrership  in the dissemination process between  Cente and States enabling effective communication  to the people and on sector  specific  collaboration in the Films, Broadcasting  and Information  Sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (col. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.))

(a) & (b) The 28th State Infomration  Ministers' Conference (SIMCON) was held in Vigyan Bhawan  on 9th-l0th December 2016 wherein the State Information  Ministers,  Chief Secretaries, Principal lnformation  Secretaries, Resident Commissioners and representatives participated.

SIMCON aimed at enabling effective communication  to the people and on sector specific collaboration in the Films, Broadcasting  and Information  Sectors between the Cente and the States. The details of the participants  of the 28th SIMCON are placed at .ANI\EXURE-'A'.

(c) & (d) Various issues related to Films, Information  & Broadcasting  Sector were discussed  dwing the two days State Information  Ministers  Conference  (SIMCON) on 9th & 10th Decembe42016.Issues  related to Doordarshan  & All India Radio were also included  as part of agenda for discussions with the states.  The details are placed at Annexure  'B'.

All the above  issues of mutual interest were discussed to facilitate discussions  between the States  and Centre in the spirit of mutual  parfirership  and co-operative  federalism.

## (ANNEXURE REFERRED TO rN REpLy OF PARA (A) & (B) OF LOK SABHA  USQ NO. 1120 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 08.02.2017)

## List of Delegates who participated  in 28ttt SIMCON  (9tt'-10tr Dec. 2016) held at Vigyan Bhawan

| S No.   | Name of State     | Delegates from States                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|---------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| L       | Andhra Pradesh    | (1.) Shri P. Raghunatha Reddy, Minister of I&P& Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (2.)Shri P Kiran Kumar, foint Director, I&PR Deptt., Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (3.) Shri K V Mohan Rao, IPS, SP, CID, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (4.) Shri S. Venkateswar, IIS, Commissioner, I&PR Department                                                               |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh | (1.) Shri Bamang Felix, Hon'ble Parliamentary Secretary IEducation), Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh (z.)Shri Talom Tapak, IAS, Secretary flPR), Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh (3.) Ms. Geetanjali Gupta, IAS, Resident Commissioner, GoW. of Arunachal Pradesh (4.) Shri Obang Tayetrg, Director, I&PR, Arunachal Pradesh                             |
| 3       | Assam             | (1.) Shri Pallab Lochan Das, Minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Govt. of Assam (Z.)Ms. Madhurima Barua Sen, Secretary, I&P& Govt. of Assam (3.) Shri Tapan Das, P.A. Minister I.T., Govt. of Assam                                                                                                                              |
| 4       | Bihar             | (1.) Shri Vipin Kumar, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Bihar (z.)Shri Navin Kumar, Dept. of Info. Tech, Govt. of Bihar (3.) Ms. Mamta S. Ojha, Secy to Resident Commissioner-cum- Liaison Officer, Bihar Bhawan                                                                                                                                |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh      | (1.) Shri Santosh K. Misra, IAS, Secretary, PR, Govt. of Chattisgarh (z.)Shri Sanjay Ojha, Resident Commissioner, GoW. of Chhattisgarh (3.) Shri Umesh Mishra, Govt. of Chhattisgarh (4.) Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, Director, Chhattisgarh PR Department, Govt. of Chhattisgarh (5.) Shri Sunil Singh, Deputy Director, Govt. of Chhattisgarh |
| 6       | Goa               | (1.) Shri R K Srivastava, Chief Secretary, Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

| 7   | Gujarat          | (1.) Shri Ashwini Kumar, Secy. [&B), Govt. of Gujarat (2.) Shri Bharyesh Shah, Govt. of Gujarat (3.) Ms. Neelah, A.R.C - RC Office, Govt. of Guiarat (4.) Shri Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Gujarat (5.) Shri Nilesh Shah, foint Director, Govt. of Gujarat                                                                                                      |
|-----|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| B   | Haryana          | (1.) Smt. D. S. Dhesi, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. Of Haryana (2.) Ms. Dheera Khandelwal, Add. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Haryana (3.) Shri Sameer P. Srow, DG-IPR, GoW. of Haryana (4.) Shri Anand M Sharan, Govt. of Haryana                                                                                                                                                   |
| 9   | Himachal Pradesh | (1.) Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, I&PR Minister, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (z.)Shri V C Pharka, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (3.) Shri R S Negi, Director I&PR, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (4.) Shri Sanjat Sharma, ft. Director, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (5.) P H S Malini, PLO Delhi, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (6.) Er. U C Kaundal, DIP& Govt. of Himachal Pradesh |
| 10  | fammu& Kashmir   | (1.) Dr. Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary, I&K Govt. (Addl. Secy to CM and Director, I&PR)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| LL  | Iharkhand        | (1.) Shri A K Pandey, |oint Secretary IT, Govt. of fharkhand Q)Shri Shri Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary [PR), Govt. of fharkhand (3.) Shri D K Tiwary, Govt. of fharkhand (4.) Shri Santosh Kumar Mishra, Govt. of f harkhand (5.) Shri R S Toppo, Director [PR), Govt. of f harkhdnd                                                                                   |
| LZ  | Karnataka        | (1.) Shri M.Lakshmin Arayasa, Govt. of Karnataka (z.)Ms. Annies K loy, Dy. Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Karnataka (3.) Shri Lakshminarayan, Director, Govt. of Karnataka (4.) Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Karnataka (5.) Shri Vishnu Kumar, Director Information & Publicity, Govt. of Karnataka                                                 |
| 13  | Kerala           | (1.) Shri Puneet Kumar, Addl. Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Kerala (2.) Mrs. Sheela Thomas, Addl. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala (3.) Dr. Vishwas Mehta, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Kerala                                                                                                                                                                             |

| L4   | Madhya Pradesh   | (1.) Shri Sanjay Saxena, |t. Director, P& Govt. of MP (2.) Shri Ashish Srivastava, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of MP (3.) Shri Anupam Rajan Commissioner, P& Govt. of MP (4.) Shri S K Mishra, Pr. Secretary [PR), GoW. of MP (5.)Shri Aashish Shrivastava, GoW. of Madhya Pradesh   |
|------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15   | Maharashtra      | (1.) Ms.Anju Nimsarkar, I&PR Officer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| L6   | Meghalaya        | (1.) Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hon'ble Minister of Information & Public Relations, Govt. of Meghalaya (z.)Smt. M.N.Nampui IAS Director IPR, Govt. of Meghalaya                                                                                                                                   |
| L7   | Mizoram          | (1.) Shri Arvind Ray, Principal Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Mizoram                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 1B   | Nagaland         | (1.) Shri Khekaho Assumi, Parliamentary Secretary, IP& Govt. of Nagalnd (2.) Shri fyoti Kalash, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Nagaland                                                                                                                                         |
| L9   | Odisha           | (1.) Shri Sushil Kumar Das, Director & Addl. Secretary, Govt. of Odisha Q) Shri Tapan K. Das, Director, I&PR, Govt. of Odisha (3.) Dr. S K Bhargava, Chief Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Odisha                                                                                               |
| z0   | Punjab           | (1.) Shri Bikram Singh Majithia ,D /o Information and Publicity, GoW. of Punjab Q)Shri Rahul Tiwari, SIP& Govt. of Punjab (3.) Shri Rahul Bhandari, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Punjab                                                                                                 |
| 2L   | Raiasthan        | (1.) Shri G. N. Bhatt, Addl. Director, Govt. of Rajasthan (2.) Shri Arijit Banerjee, Director, I&P& Govt. of Rajasthan (3.) Shri Rohit Kumar, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Rajasthan (4.) Mrs. Anuprerna Kuntal, Director, I&PR, Govt. of Rajasthan                                          |
| 22   | Sikkim           | [1.) Shri Govind Mohan, Principal Secretary fl&PR) and Principal Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim                                                                                                                                                                                         |

| 23   | Tamil Nadu    | (1.) Shri f . Kumaragurubar?ffi, Director, I&P& Govt. of Tamil Nadu (z.)R.Rajesh Kann?r, Information officer, Govt. of Tamil Nadu (3.) R.Venkatesan IAS Secretary Information Dept. Govt. of Tamil Nadu                                                                                                 |
|------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2,4  | Telangana     | (1.) Shri T.Srinivas Yadav, Minister of Cinematography, Govt. of Telangana (z.)Shri Ch. Chakravarthi, APRO, I&P& Govt. of Telangana (3.) Dr. Shashank Goyal, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Telangana                                                                                             |
| 25   | Tripura       | (1.) Shri Bhanulal Saha, Hon'ble Minister of Information & Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Tripura (z.)Shri Shailendra Singh, Addl. Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Tripura (3.) Shri M L Dey, Special Secretary, Govt. of Tripura (4.) Shri Pravin Srivastava, Chief Resident Commissioner, GoW. of Tripura |
| 26   | Uttar Pradesh | (1.) Shri Yasar Shah, Hon'ble Minister of Commercial Tax, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh (z.)Shri Kripa Shankar Yadav, OSD, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                              |
| 27   | Uttarakhand   | (1.) Shri Udaya Kumar, Director, Information & Publicity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

| S No.   | Name of UT               | Delegates from UTs                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|---------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| L       | Andaman & Nicobar Island | Prof. fagdish Mukhi, Lt. Governor Ajay Kumar Singh, Sect. I&P& Govt. of A&N (1.) (2.)                                                                                                                     |
| 2       | Delhi                    | (1.) Dr. |ayadev Sarangi, Secretary [PR), Govt. of NCT of Delhi Q.)Shri Nalin Chauh?r, Deputy Director, DIP, Govt. of NCT of Delhi (3.) Shri Sandeep Mishra, DIP, GoW. of NCT of Delhi               |
| 3       | Pondicherry              | (1.) Shri A. Namassivayam PWD Minister, Govt. of Puducherry (2.) Dr. Narendra Kumar, Govt. of Puducherry (3.) Shri N. UdayKumar, Director, Govt. of Puducherry (4.) Shri K. K. Singh, Govt. of Puducherry |
| 4       | Lakshadweep              | [1.) Shri Asarpal Singh, Addl. Resident Commissioner, Union Territory of Lakshadweep                                                                                                                      |

| 5   | i Chandigarh   | (1.) Shri Parimal Ray, Advisor to Administrator, Govt. of Chandigarh Q.) Shri f itendra Yadav, Govt. of Chandigarh (3.) Bhartendu Shandilya, Govt. of Chandigarh   |
|-----|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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## (ANNEXURE REFERRED  TO rN REPLY OF PARA  [C)  & (D) OF tOK SABHA USQ NO. r12O TO BE ANSWERED ON O8.O2.2OA7)

## Issues discussed at 28t! State Information  Minister's Conference (SIMCOI\I on 9-10th Dec. 2016 at Viwan Bhawan. New Delhi

## Films Sector:

## 1. Promoting  India as a Film Destination:

- o  Facilitating  shooting permissions  for foreign filmmakers in the country  through  setting up of Film Facilitation Offrce was discussed with the states. Considering the enormous potential  of the Films Sector, State Governments  were requested to appoint a Nodal Agency/Officer  for purposes  of promoting and facilitating film shootings in their State
- o  Most Film Friendly State Award which was included as a special category award in the National  Film Awards and the related details were discussed.  Hon'ble Minister of Information and Broadcasting announced a cash component  of Rs 1.00 Crore to be included  in the award to motivate states to compete.
2. Details and activities  related  to National FiIm Heritage Mission  to archive heritage  Filmic Material.  States were asked to support and facilitate  this mission by facilitating such heritage and archival material  available  with them for restoration  and digitization.
- State and local administration support for organizing various Film Festivals  such as Children  Film Festival, Patriotic  Film X'estival in states across the country. Various  ideas such as including a Cuisine  festival/textile festival (with state support) alongside such festivals  to promote  local culture  came up during  the discussions. 3.
4. Planning  & Organzing  Short term courses in Acting, Film Production,  Editing,  and Photography  in the states as per the requests  received from state government  with support from Ministry of I&B.

## Information  Sector:

- Government Advertising-  Formation  of 3 Member Committee-  The issues related  to the constitution of three member committee  for content regulation,  were clarified to the States.
- Discussions  also happened  on the role of Social Media  -  challenges and opportunities in reaching  to out to people.  States requested  Ministry of I&B to organize  one day training workshop for their offrcials  on Social  Media. Ministry  of I&B agreed to provide Experts for training State Officials  on Social  Media Tools & Techniques as per the state government requests.
- States  were also apprised  about the rich collection of books/journals with Publications Division. Collaboration  in retrieving, restoring  and digitizing the archival material available with states was also discussed. States education  department  were requested to subscribe  DPD books/Joumals  for libraries and Universities in their state.

## Broadcasting Sector:

- Issues related  to Cable  TV Digitization and salient features related to Cable TV Act were discussed. States were informed  about their role and powers  with reference the Digitization  & action on violations of provisions of Cable TV Act/Rules. The Ministry also expressed its willingness to organize training  programmes, if so required and requested  by the State Government,  for the authorized  officers.  The role of State/District  Level Monitoring committees was highlighted during the course of the session and it was discussed that for effective implementation of the Cable TV Act and related guidelines  regular  meetings of these committees should take place. States also suggested to include these relevant central government acts/guidelines in the course curriculum for training of state level officers for better and comprehensive understanding.
- Community  Radio- Guidelines  for setting up Community Radio and its relevance to reach to the last mile especially during crisis situations  was discussed.  Many states expressed  their interest to support setting up of CRS in their states.  During the Conference  HMIB announced increased subsidv of 90Vo for NES and75o/o for other states for setting  up of CRS.

## Prasar Bharati:

Issues related to Prasar Bharati were also discussed  which included the following major points:

- o  Cable operators registered  in the State must carry DD Channels as per the Cable TV Act;
- o  Providing regular and intemrpted  Power Supply for DD/AIR  establishment  at NonCommercial  rates:
- . AccreditationofPIB/AIR/DD officersbythe  State Govemments & facilities  atparwith other media personnel;
- o  State Governments may use DD/AIR platforms  for publicity of  their pro grarnmes/initiative s  ;
- r Regular participation  by Ministries/Senior  State Governments  officers and other authorities  in Studio based  Live Interactive  Programmes conceming  public welfare  and utility.

## Imoortant  announcements made at the Conference:

1. To formulate a National Information  & Communication Policy to address the needs  of the people, challenges  and the paradigm  shift taking place across media space in Consultation  with State Governments  ;
2. Awarding  Cash component of Rs.l crores to the *Most  Film Friendly State";
3. Provision for subsidy upto 90% for Norttr EasteNn  States  and upto 75o/o for other States for setting up of Community Radio Stations zubject to maximum limit of Rs.7.5  lalfi
4. Launch of new dedicated ngws channel *Arun Prabha"  by Doordarshan to show richness, variety  and diversity  of local culture and to seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

* * ****