Lok Sabha Question No. 5221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Film Heritage Mission
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO, 5221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## FILM HERITAGE MISSION

## 5221: SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

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

- (a) whether Covernment has launched a film condition assessment  proiect  under the National Film Heritage Mission;
- (b) if so, the details of number of film reels assessed  and preserved  for future  use, as per global  standards and funds allocated towards implementation  ofthis  project;
- (c) whether the Ministry also plans to digitise and restore non-filmic material  like posters,  photos, song  booklets, pamphlets,  press clippings, slides/transparenc ies and glass  negatives  and if so, the details  thereof;
- (e) whether  the Covernment is also planning to formulate a national communication and information  policy in an effort to enhance access  and dissemination  of information across the country  and if so, the details  thereof?
- (d) whether the Ministry has also set up a film promotion fund to provide financial aid to the movies (for promotional  activities) selected in the competition section of any international  film festival, including lndia's official  nomination  for the Academy Awards and if so, the details  thereol and

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b):  Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched  a mission mode project namely  'National Film Heritage  Mission (NFHM)'to  restore,  digitize  and archive  films and filmic material through National Film Archive of India ('NFAI).  one of the objectives ofNFHM is to undertake film condition assessment  ofthe film collection and to asceftain  the left over life ofthe  film.

Under Film condition  Assessment, 1,32,000 film reels are proposed to be assessed and preserved. The activities like preservation,  conservation,  digitization and restoration  of film reels as part of NFHM have started as per global standards. The total approved outlay for NFHM project  is Rs.597.41  crore.

- (c):  A separate  activity for digitization  ofnon-filmic material  like posters, photos,  song booklets, pamphlets,  press  clippings, slides/transparencies  and glass negatives  is currently underway  at NFAI.
- (d): The Ministry has decided  to provide financial assistance  to filmmakers  whose films are selected in competition section of an international  film festival of repute  or are given India's official  nomination  for Academy Awards under Foreign Film Category.

Directorate  of Film Festivals has been designated  as the nodal agency for implementing this activity.

The guidelines  and procedure for this scheme has been published  on the website of the Ministry of lnformation and Broadcastins that http://mib.nic. ir/WriteReadData./documentVFi  lm\_Promotion\_F  und.pdf

- (e):  During the State Information Ministers' Conference  (SIMCON) held on 9-t 0 December,20l6,  it was decided  that the Ministry of lnformation  and Broadcasting would formulate  a Media Communications  Policy to address communication  needs. The policy will be formulated  and finalized  in consultation with States.

Integrating  Government communication  with development  and enabling  participation from citizens  to improve  decision making and implementation  of Govemment programmes  will be the aims of the policy.

The broad objectives ofthe policy are expected to:

- i enhance  access to information;
- ii promote national dialogue on development issues by allcitizens;
- iii ensure timely, orderly and effective growth and dissemination of Government information.