J&K attends national conference on media, broadcasting and creative economy

New Delhi, Aug 25: Special Secretary, Information Department, Jammu & Kashmir, Pawan Singh Rathore, attended the National Conference with States/UTs and Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Secretaries convened by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The conference brought together senior officials from the Centre, States and Union Territories to discuss strengthening coordination in public broadcasting, media, film, creative industries, information dissemination and the emerging Media & Entertainment (M&E) ecosystem.

The deliberations focused on facilitating greater participation of States and UTs in national initiatives and ensuring wider access to opportunities emerging from the country’s expanding creative economy.

A comprehensive agenda covering 15 key areas was discussed, including implementation of the Right of Way (RoW) mechanism for cable operators, the roadmap for WAVES 2027, strengthening WAVES Bazaar and market access, expansion of public service broadcasting infrastructure and integration of the Indian Cine Hub (ICH) and Film Facilitation Office (FFO) portals.

The conference also discussed adoption of the single-window ICH portal for film shooting and live-event permissions, State-specific programming and content co-production, promotion of the live-events sector, capacity building of DIPR officers and transition to the digital framework under the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023.

Other issues included strengthening libraries, promotion of low-cost cinema in rural and underserved areas, accessibility standards in cinema halls, operationalisation of the WAVES State Ecosystem and State partnership for the Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2.

The WAVES platform was highlighted as a national initiative bringing together creative industries, technology, startups, investors, creators and global industry leaders.

The proposed roadmap for WAVES 2027 envisages a wider ecosystem comprising the CEO Roundtable, Creatosphere, WAVEX, WAVES Bazaar, Global Leaders’ Track, WAVES Cultural, Thought Leaders’ Track and Exhibition & Country Pavilions.

The Exhibition and Bharat Pavilion component is proposed to showcase India’s media and entertainment capabilities, culture and creative industries globally, besides promoting the country as a filming destination and facilitating partnerships and deal-making.

The conference also reviewed WAVEX as a start-up accelerator aimed at strengthening linkages among media-tech startups, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and markets.

Public broadcasting and community outreach were another major focus, with initiatives such as WAVES OTT, MyWAVES and Gems of India discussed for showcasing State and UT-specific content, culture, tourism, heritage and development stories.

States and UTs were encouraged to work closely with the Ministry to amplify government schemes, citizen services and public-awareness campaigns, while showcasing local culture, tourism, heritage and development achievements through national media platforms.

The proposed State/UT partnership for CIC Season 2 seeks to identify, nurture, upskill and showcase creative talent, particularly from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and connect them with industry and employment opportunities.

Under the proposed partnership framework, States and UTs have been advised to designate State Nodal Officers for coordination and facilitation of WAVES and CIC activities. They may also identify suitable locations for WAVES State Centres and incubation centres and facilitate identification of promising startups, innovators, freelancers, developers and content creators.

The partnership framework also envisages support for promotion and outreach, venues, incubation and mentoring, grant or seed funding and market access.

Participating States may facilitate access to stadiums, auditoriums, convention centres, educational institutions and skill-development centres for workshops, masterclasses, auditions and talent showcases.

During the deliberations, Rathore represented Jammu & Kashmir’s perspective and engaged in discussions on greater State participation in emerging national media, broadcasting and creative economy initiatives.

His participation provided an opportunity to explore avenues for strengthening Jammu & Kashmir’s presence on national platforms and creating greater opportunities for local creators, filmmakers, startups and media professionals.

The conference also stressed strengthening the film ecosystem through the Indian Cine Hub, including the single-window mechanism for film shooting and live-event permissions, aimed at improving ease of doing business for filmmakers and event organisers.

The need to promote low-cost cinema in rural and underserved areas and implement accessibility standards in cinema halls was also emphasised.

Capacity building of DIPR officers through training facilities of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) was discussed to help information departments keep pace with emerging communication technologies, digital platforms and evolving public communication practices.

The participation of the J&K Information Department is expected to strengthen its institutional engagement with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and facilitate greater participation of the Union Territory in initiatives including WAVES, WAVES Bazaar, WAVEX, MyWAVES and the Create in India Challenge.

The initiatives could provide wider platforms for Jammu & Kashmir’s cultural heritage, creative talent and emerging media ecosystem, the department said.