On Reopening Of Cinema Halls, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar Has THIS To Say

Indian film industry has been on an extended lockdown in the outspread of the COVID-19. As the government recently pulled off the lockdown imposition from selective states, there have been talks about reopening the business sectors and other industries that were shut for a while. In the recently released guidelines by the ministry of home affairs, the resumption of the cinema halls has been kept under phase three unlock along with international flights, metro etc. I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar gives his inside on the reopening of cinema halls.

The phase 1 of unlock includes reopening of temples, shopping malls and restaurants from June 8. Phase 2 of unlock includes the reopening of educational institutes and phase 2 will be addressed after June 30. There has been no fixed guideline for phase 3 yet and thus, there are no official guidelines on reopening the cinema halls.

Information and Broadcasting Minister, Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday i.e June 2  that the reopening of cinema halls will be examined after assessing the status of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the month of June. As reported by news agency, PTI, Javadekar has been told about this to the Association of Film Producers, Cinema Exhibitioners, and Film Industry representatives during a video conference after they demanded of the opening of cinema halls.

A statement from the ministry said that Javadekar that the relief currently sought by the industry is more to do with finance like salary subsidy, interest-free loans for three years, exemption on taxes and duties, waiver of minimum demand charges on electricity and electricity at industrial rates, etc.

Javadekar also assured the representatives that the issues will be taken up with concerned ministries for necessary action. On restarting production-related activities, the minister said standard operating procedures are being issued by the government.

The theater against and cinema halls are known for pulling out great revenue in the country. As the entire film industry has been shut for more than two months, it has hit with a huge loss.

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