'Govt to support states in preserving cinematic heritage'

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is exploring possibilities of extending financial and technical support to state governments in their efforts to safeguard the country's cinematic heritage, a senior official said today.
"The objective of preserving the country's cinematic heritage has to be achieved in collaboration with state governments," said Secretary of I&B Ministry Sunil Mittal.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a high-level Committee meeting on National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) at National Film Archives of India (NFAI) here.
Mittal said the committee has taken some major decisions to expand NFHM's horizons.
"The mission would ensure not only the preservation of film heritage but also its dissemination and access to the last mile. This would create awareness amongst youth and children about our rich cultural heritage," said the Secretary.

Appreciating efforts of NFAI officers in implementing the Mission, Mittal said, all necessary steps are being undertaken to involve global organisations and institutions to ensure project's implementation as per international standards.

According to the Secretary, NFAI's facilities would be augmented by creating new state of the art vaults in its premises.
Laying thrust on the need for enhancing research on Indian cinema, Mittal said, the Centre is exploring the possibility of extending NFAI's research fellowship to the university level through formal institutional mechanisms.
"NFAI would reach out to major universities for short and long term courses in the area of film studies incorporating subject of film archiving and preservation.

"This would ensure building of skilled manpower in the niche area of film preservation," Mittal added.
NFHM is the Centre's project for digitisation, restoration, preservation and conservation of country's rich film heritage and has a budgetary outlay of Rs 597.41 crore.
The NFAI is the implementing agency for the Mission.