5-May-2022: World’s largest film restoration project undertaken in alignment with Prime Minister’s vision to preserve and protect India’s rich cinematic heritage
“It is Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s vision to prioritize preservation, protection & promotion of India’s rich cultural heritage, and films constitutes important part of this heritage” the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur said during his visit to National Film Archive of India, Pune today.
The Union Minister highlighted that the National Film Heritage Mission launched in 2016 is aimed at preserving, restoring and digitizing our cinematic heritage. In this context, the Union Minister announced that a decision has been taken yesterday that, “Out of the total outlay of Rs. 597 crore earmarked for this Mission, Rs. 363 Crore shall be utilized exclusively for restoration purpose, making it one of the World’s largest film restoration projects”.
He remarked that films are part of our culture and that the seminal contribution made by film industry in the last 100 years has made India the biggest film industry in the world.
He informed that the process of restoring over 5900 short films, documentaries and features is underway and this exercise carried out by NFAI proves to be one of the world’s biggest restoration, conservation, preservation and digitization process undertaken.
He also informed that restoration process includes a large number of films including films include short films, features, documentary Films made in different Indian languages. He added that the Government has taken up this responsibility in a mission mode and efforts are made to bring in new technologies to restore and to archive this valuable cinematic heritage for generations to come.
Earlier in the day, the Minister held a meeting to review the functioning of Film and television Institute of India (FTII) and deliberated on the vision of taking FTII to international standards of excellence. The Union Minister commented that collaborations with film institutes of international repute would enhance the story telling capabilities of students. FTII should nurture entrepreneurial skills and equip students to launch startups in film and television productions, he added.
“FTII is a prestigious institute of India. During the review meeting an elaborate discussion was held on how to take FTII forward in TV & Film sector and also promote FTII in the field of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics. Also, by honing the skills in our students they can be transformed from job-seekers to entrepreneurs,” he said to the media.
“Our institutions and students are central to achieving our vision in the Media & Entertainment sector,” said Union Minister during his one-day visit to Pune. “It’s time to re-position our lens and aim to make India- the content hub of the world,” the Minister said. The Minister held review meeting at Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), and National Film Archive of India (NFAI), today.
“I interacted with the FTII students and faculty to understand how we can work together to showcase the best of this institute and make it ready for new age cinematic excellence, partnerships and more,” the Minister added.
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur also released Hindi edition of Lensight, the academic journal of FTII. The Minister was given a tour of the Institute.
While interacting with Heads of Departments, the Minister urged the faculty to keep upgrading themselves and bring partners from industry to FTII. He also emphasized on the larger outreach activities and partnerships with organizations to run courses in film and television production various parts of the country. Chairperson, FTII, Shekhar Kapur; I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra; Director FTII, Sandeep Shahare and other officials of the Institute were also present.
21-Mar-2022: Ministry of Culture implements financial assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas
Ministry of Culture implements a financial grant scheme known as Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas for the purpose of promoting, protecting and preserving the cultural heritage of Himalayan region spreading in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Territory of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh through research, documentation, dissemination, etc.. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the Voluntary Organizations including Colleges and Universities for study and research on cultural heritage, Preservation of old manuscripts, literature, art & crafts and documentation of cultural activities/ events like music & dance, dissemination through audio-visual programmes of art and culture and training in traditional and folk art. The quantum of funding is Rs.10.00 lakhs per year for an organization. The Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) on the scheme is empowered to recommend the amount beyond the maximum limit but not exceeding Rs.30.00 lakhs from this scheme.
The number of proposals received from the Himalayan States during the last three years under the Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas are given as under:
|
Year |
No. of Proposals received |
|
2018-19 |
130 |
|
2019-20 |
131 |
|
2020-21 |
156 |
The Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas is a financial grant Scheme administered by the Ministry of Culture specifically for preservation and development of Cultural heritage of the Himalayan States/Union Territories including Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Territory of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The said scheme is a Central Sector Scheme and no funds are released directly to the State Governments. However, the details of State-wise funds released to the Non-Governmental Organizations under the scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas has increased to 4,73,47,640/-(Rs.in Lakhs) in 2021-2022 as compared to 2020-2021 which is 3,36,00,000/- (Rs.in Lakhs).
3-Feb-2022: National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), a central sector scheme launched on 21st January, 2015 and was implemented in 12 cities of Ajmer (Rajasthan), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Badami (Karnataka), Dwarka (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Kancheepuram and Velankanni (Tamil Nadu), Mathura and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), and Warangal (Telangana). The mission has ended on 31st March, 2019 and no new projects/cities were taken up after 31st March, 2019.
Under the HRIDAY Scheme, funds were not allocated to the cities year wise but for the entire Mission period and directly released to the cities.
The implementation of the projects was monitored through regular review meetings, video-conferencing with the concerned State Governments/City official along with site visits.
23-Feb-2017: Bet Dwarka Darshan Circuit in Gujarat under HRIDAY
Ministry of Urban Development today approved development of 6 km long Bet Dwarka Darshan Circuit in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.16.27 cr under the Central Scheme ‘Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)’.
HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (UD) has approved the circuit connecting the famous Dwarkadish Haveli and Hanuman Dandi, the only temple housing Hanumanji and his son Makardhwaj, in Dwarka district of Gujarat. There are two important water bodies along the circuit viz., Ranchod Talav and Shankhudhar Lake.
Darshan Circuit works to be taken up include development of streets and pedestrian pathways, laying of cycle tracks along beach side, plantation, provision of benches, resting spaces, changing rooms, drinking water and toilet facilities, craft and food bazar, signages, LED lighting, plazas for vending spaces etc.
Under HRIDAY launched on January 21, 2015, heritage related infrastructure development is being taken up in 12 identified cities including Dwarka-Bet Dwarka at a total cost of Rs.500 cr. so far, projects with an investment of Rs.420 cr have been approved for all 12 mission cities.