Centre planning NSD branch in northeast

The Centre is keen on setting up a regional centre of the National School of Drama in either of the northeastern states to promote professional theatre.
This was communicated to the Meghalaya government by the Rajya Sabha Committee on Government Assurances led by four MPs during their meeting with Chief Secretary P B O Warjri and other senior state government officials.
"The Rajya Sabha Committee has expressed keen interest in setting up a National School of Drama in either of the northeast states," a senior government official told PTI.
According to the official, the Committee however, did not specify as to which state in the region, the centre would be set up.

During the discussion, a proposal was made with the officials from the Ministry of Culture and those from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that initially only courses relating to setting up of a film institute would be set up in Meghalaya, the official said.
The Committee was also informed that the state government was proposing to set up an Academy for Visual Arts with its own resources and a DPR was being currently prepared.
The state government officials briefed the Committee on problems faced in construction of hydel power projects, status of road projects and villages which are not covered under mobile telephone services.

The Committee also held a meeting with officials from the National Highways Authority of India and Ministries of Power and Road Transport and Highways, the management of the State Bank of India and UCO Bank and representatives of the Ministry of Finance regarding loans recovered from people belonging to SC/ST and loans to corporate houses and farmers.