Industry status for film world

Swaraj said she had discussed the matter with Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha before coming to Mumbai and modalities would be worked out with the Finance Ministry, which would issue a notification to this effect.

She said industry status would be accorded for the betterment of Indian cinema and not because of the applause she had received from the audience.

Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Revenue Secretary N K Singh, who were scheduled to attend, were absent due to the impending Budget session of Parliament. However, the Income Taxcommissioner and chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes were present.

Swaraj said a bill would be introduced to put the film industry on the Concurrent List so that thorny issues could be talked by the central government.

An Export Promotion Council to boost film exports would be set up in view of the demand for Indian films abroad, she added.

Refusing to concede the demand for abolition of censorship, Swaraj said a system could be worked out akin to the green channel8217; in the Customs, which would facilitate clearance of films.

For instance, a producer who feels a film does not need clearance from the Central Board for Film Certification could merely submit an affidavit to this effect, whereas only those who wanted to dish out adult8217; fare would have to seek clearance from the censors, Swaraj explained.

This, she underscores, is only an idea which could be discussed with the film fraternity. But, she said, producers violating their declarations would be punished for theinfringement.

The minister also promised to set up a Development Council which would be represented by film personalities with a good track record. The council would convene in the capital every three months and discuss problems and find solutions faced by the industry.

This is the first time a conference of this nature has been organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry FICCI on such a large scale. Prominent film personalities spoke and read papers, while thespian Dilip Kumar inaugurated the meet. After a passionate assessment of the condition of film producers, who do not get even Rs 7 of every Rs 100 earned at the box-office, he also drew attention to institutions like production units like New Theatres, Prabhat, Ranjit and Bombay Talkies, which were self-sufficient, well-equipped and made memorable films that have been wiped out due to lack of institutional finance.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde said his government had urged the central governmentfour years ago that a national film financing institution be set up, to which the state would contribute Rs 100 crore.