The MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 152 FOR ANSWER ON 11.12.2003.
(a) to (e) `Cinema` except `certification of films` is a State subject. A Committee for
Development of the Entertainment Sector was set up in January 2001, under the
Chairmanship of the Minister for Information and Broadcasting in Government of India
with nine State Ministers of Information and Public Relations as members, inter alia to
suggest a policy framework both at the Centre and in the States conducive to promoting
the entertainment sector, in order to ensure a uniform development pattern for this
sector.
The Committee in its second meeting held on 8.11.2001, inter alia, recommended that all
State Governments fix their entertainment tax within a ceiling of 60%. In response to this
recommendation, several State Governments have reduced the rates of entertainment
tax in their States.
In its third meeting held on 13-10-2003 the Committee recommended a further reduction
of the ceiling on entertainment tax rates for films from 60% to 45%. The recommendation
of the Committee has been circulated to all State Governments.
The following decisions were also taken on various issues including piracy by the
Committee in its meetings held on 8.11.2001 and 13.10.2003, which have been
circulated, to all State Governments:
(i) Ministry of I&B to evolve appropriate training modules for both senior police
officers and junior police personnel on piracy in the film sector and circulate
them to all the States to be included in their training curriculum for the police.
The Ministry has conducted a training programme for senior police officers
and necessary training material has been compiled.
(ii) State Governments to conduct training programmes for police personnel and
appoint senior nodal police officers who would be responsible for anti piracy
activities in States.
(iii) A sub committee, with representatives of the States of Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, West Bengal and Haryana, President, Multiplex Association of
India and a representative of the Ministry of I&B was constituted to look into
the issue of introducing computerized ticketing in the States.
(iv) The Ministry of I&B to put together a model structure of rules, regulations and
incentives for the exhibition sector to be used as a reference point for all
States. FICCI has been entrusted with the task of formulating model cinema
and cinema related regulations, which will be scrutinized by the above Sub-
Committee of the Committee for the Development of the Entertainment
Sector.
(v) State Governments to give single window clearance for foreign film teams
shooting in India and a specific officer to be appointed for facilitating such
clearances.
(vi) State Governments to sensitize their police personnel about copyright
violation and take necessary steps to prevent the occurrence of piracy.
