NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said All India Radio currently broadcasts in 28 dialects belonging to the North Eastern region in order to bring a better connect with the people.

The Minister said his Ministry had increased the subsidy level to 90 per cent for setting up Community Radio stations in the Northeast region.

Community Radio Stations broadcast programmes on issues which are of immediate relevance to the community and thereby facilitate development by disseminating information regarding education, rural development, agriculture, health, nutrition environmental, social welfare, Panchayati Raj issues and cultural needs.

The Minister was speaking after a Review Meeting of Programmes & Policies in Northeast with the officers of the Ministry in Guwahati today. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, senior officials of the Ministry along with officers of the North Eastern Region were present on the occasion.

Skill development would be a priority area for his Ministry in the overall communication approach for the North Eastern Region.

This would complement the Government’s Act East Policy launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year as it would facilitate the nurturing of talent in the field of Media & Entertainment.

The proposed Film & Television Institute of India in Arunachal Pradesh and the setting up of permanent campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) at Aizwal would provide quality training to the young population catering to their needs and aspirations thereby acting as Talent Creators and Talent Hubs in the region.

Naidu said the Film & Television Institute of India in Arunachal Pradesh would be set up on a campus of more than 50 acres and at a cost of Rs 2 billion as an extended campus of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata. This would act as a catalyst to promote talent in different aspects of filmmaking in the region.

The Minister added that the setting up of a permanent campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) at Aizwal would be developed as media training hub for North East Region & South East Asian countries. The institute would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 250 million.

Referring to the role and responsibility of the Public Broadcaster, Naidu said it was critical in spreading the Development story of the Government - especially the programmes and policies specific to the North Eastern Region.

The Minister said the only way for development in the region was peace; Terrorism and Insurgency was anti-development. He said it was essential to develop programmes in local dialects and languages in order to reach out to diverse sections of the society.

Highlighting the various Film Festivals that the Ministry has conducted in the North Eastern Region, Naidu said the medium of Cinema was powerful to send across the message of peace and development in the region. The National Children’s Film Festival (NCFF), which recently concluded in Guwahati, showcased value based award winning movies from the Children’s Film Society, India’s catalogue.

A special edition of cultural programme Fragrances from North East also showcased movies from the North Eastern Region throughout the country in order to raise awareness and thereby enhance people to people contact.