Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
The Union Cabinet today approved the merger of Films Division, Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children’s Film Society, India with National Film Development Corporation. Briefing media in New Delhi after the Cabinet Meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, the merger of Film Media Units under one corporation will lead to convergence of activities and resources and better coordination.
With more than 3000 films produced in a year, India is the largest film producer in the world with an industry led by the private sector. To fulfill the commitment to support the films sector, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved to merge four of its film media units, namely Films Division, Directorate of Film. Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children’s Film Society, India with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Ltd. by expanding the Memorandum of Articles of Association of NFDC, which will then carry out all the activities hitherto performed by them. The merger of Film Media Units under one corporation will lead to convergence of activities and resources and better coordination, thereby ensuring synergy and efficiency in achieving the mandate of each media unit.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of a Transaction Advisor and Legal Advisor who will advise on the transfer of assets and employees and oversee all aspects of operationalization of the merger. The interests of the employees of all the concerned Media Units will be fully taken care of and no employee will be retrenched.
Mr Javadekar said, the Cabinet has approved revision in guidelines for providing DTH services in India. He said, DTH licence will be issued for 20 years in place of present 10 years. Licence fee will be collected quarterly basis instead of annual basis. DTH operators will be permitted to operate to a maximum of 5 per cent of its total channel carrying capacity as permitted platform channels. There will be sharing of infrastructure between DTH operators. The Minister said, guidelines have been amended to allow 100 per cent FDI in DTH services.
Mr Javadekar said, the Cabinet approved an ordinance for extending National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act for another 3 years, giving protection to unauthorised colonies from punitive action in Delhi.
The Cabinet also gave its nod for signing the revised Air Services Agreement between India and Philippines. It also gave its approval for signing the revised Air Services Agreement between India and Afghanistan.
The revised Air Services Agreements have the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector.