Govt making all efforts to boost film industry:Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Government has permitted 100 per cent foreign direct investment through automatic route in the film sector and made institutional and bank financing accessible to the entertainment industry to boost the sectors, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

''Through our vigorous effort we have been able to reduce prevailing level of entertainment tax. We have simplified the procedure and reduced the period required for granting permission to shoot foreign feature films in India,'' Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said in a written reply.

Besdies, he added, the Government has led participation in global markets, viz. Cannes Film Market, American Film Market, Berlin Film Market, Film Bazaar, etc. with a view to enhancing visibility of the Indian film industry.

The Minister pointed out that an audio-visual co-production agreement had been signed with the Republic of Italy and United Kingdom and similar proposals from other countries were being explored to expand avenues of finances and markets for the Indian Film Industry.

He also said that five Core Groups had been constituted to look into the various aspects of the film industry and suggest measures to promote it. Computerisation: Replying to another question, Mr Dasmunsi said the Government proposed to computerize All India Radio stations for providing better services. There were two schemes under 10th Plan for this purpose.

Under the one, computerization of 38 AIR stations not having computers has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 41 lakh.

This scheme has already been implemented.

The Scheme II proposes computerization of 188 AIR stations/offices at an estimated cost of Rs. 390 lakh. This scheme is likely to be implemented during 2006-07.

Advertisements: The Minister said the government was seized of the issue of exaggeration in advertisement of many products.

As far as electronic media is concerned, all programmes and advertisements of satellite TV channels transmitted or retransmitted through cable service were required to adhere to the provisions of the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder.

To look into the violations of the Programme and Advertising Codes, the Central Government has constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee under Section 20 of the Act.

In the case of the print media, the Press Council of India (PCI), which is in the nature of a self-regulatory body of the Press, has built "Norms of Journalistic Conduct", which state that Editors should insist on their right to have the final say in the acceptance or rejection of advertisements.

The advisories issued by the Press Council of India, however, carry only moral force and are not enforceable in a Court of Law, he said.

Misleading advertisements issued with the objective of attracting consumers by companies come under the category of unfair trade practices under Section 36A of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP Act). On receipt of complaint, action is taken by the MRTP Commission.

The consumers who are affected/aggrieved have an option to seek redressal before a Consumer Forum, he added.

UNI NAZ RP RN1901