Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday assured the Indian film industry that the Centre would bring necessary amendments to the Cinematography Act, based on the recommendations made by the experts’ committee chaired by filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
During the interactions with the stakeholders of the Cinematography Act, Naidu said: “The Centre is in agreement with most of the recommendations of the Shyam Bengal Committee report. The I & B Ministry will make all efforts to facilitate the amendments to the Cinematography Act. The Amendments would be in tune with technical and other realities of film production and modern times”..
Naidu was speaking at the last leg of consultation with stake holders on Cinematography Act in Mumbai. “The Indian Films have international potential and are the most potent medium of spreading India’s Culture globally .The Government is geared up to address all the challenges faced by the sector,” the minister said.
At the consultation meeting chaired by Naidu, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Secretary, Ministry Of Information & Broadcasting Ajay Mittal, eminent personalities from film industry, representatives of Film producers’ Guild, senior officials of Government and other stake holders were present.
The film industry representatives informed the Minister about the various challenges to the survival and Growth of the sector and requested the Government to reduce the proposed GST in Film Sector from 28 per cent to 18 per cent and also assist the industry in significantly increasing the number of Screens in the country to boost revenue .
Naidu said that the decisions regarding GST rate etc were decided by the GST Council and assured that the demands of the film Sector would be presented before the Council.
He also requested that State Governments too should dwell on the subject and make appropriate representation before the GST council.
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