Mumbai is keen on establishing a National Centre for Excellence to create skilled manpower for the media sector, especially in the areas of gaming and visual effects, said Rajyavardhan Rathore, minister of state for Information and Broadcasting on Monday.
Speaking at the Make In India Week, Mr Rathore said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has shown interest in the project wherein the infrastructure will be provided by the State while faculty will be sourced from the private sector. “The chief minister has shown interest and has told me more than once that this centre should be located near Mumbai,” he said.
“The quality of education has to be really high and so experts will be picked up from the private sector,” Mr Rathore said. He was here to address a seminar on media and entertainment.
Censor board
The minister, who in 2004 won a silver medal in shooting at the Athens Olympics, said his ministry is looking at revamping the Censor Board and the committee appointed under veteran film maker Shyam Benegal has been given two months’ time to submit the report.
“We held a meeting where the cabinet minister (Arun Jaitley) was also present. The rules need to be changed. We want a framework where there is only certification and no censorship. We believe people of this country are capable of deciding which movie to watch and which not to,” Mr Rathore said.
The government is also looking at establishing a fund for movies that are sent for screening at international film festivals. The in-principle approval has been given and a committee with industry experts has been formed to look at how funding can be done, the minister said. To increase the reach of radio across the country, the government plans to have at least three private FM radio stations in all towns with a population of more than one lakh.
If private players are not able to go in due to any reason, then the government will establish 100 All India Radio stations, Mr Rathore said.
