Aimed at attracting investments in the field of digital art, the State Government on Wednesday unveiled the Karnataka Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics policy. It focusses on developing and nurturing the animation and gaming segment of the information technology industry.
In this policy, the first of its kind in the country, the Government has announced the creation of a venture capital fund of Rs. 50 crore, to be funded jointly by the Government and private investors, to help entrepreneurs. The Government's contribution to this fund is 26 per cent, M.N. Vidyashankar, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology and e-Governance, announced.
Another key policy announcement is the decision to set up a centre of excellence in this field in a private-public partnership mode. While the State and the Centre would invest 20 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, the private partners would provide 50 per cent.
Other moves proposed include promotion of public and private parks in this sector, setting up animation, visual effects, gaming and comics parks on the SEZ model and providing financial assistance for setting up digital art centres.
Further, ten fine arts colleges, located in Gulbarga, Bidar, Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Raichur, Bellary, Chitradurga, Chamarajanagar and Tumkur, have been identified for digital art centres.
Mr. Vidyashankar said that that the potential for the industry was projected at around Rs. 10,000 crore by the end of 2012, and this would grow by over 40 per cent in the next three years.
Biren Ghose, president of the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry, said an expert panel comprising experienced industry professionals from India and abroad would be set up to study and research current trends and future requirements of the industry. Announcing the policy, Labour Minister B.N. Bache Gowda termed it a “historic day” for Karnataka. He said the policy would particularly benefit students from rural areas, who were creative.
