Information and Tourism Department

Policy Note - 2005-2006

Demand No. 27

Information and Publicity

The concept of "Global Village" was conceived and made possible because of rapid strides in the development in Information Technology and Communication. The Field of communication has undergone a sea change due to the growth of Information technology and satellite communication. Therefore, it is obvious that the Department of Information and Public Relations which is instrumental in disseminating information on the policies and achievements of the Government, be infused with the latest in technology of international standards. On this basis, all the wings of the Information and Public Relations Department are being modernised on the directions given by the Hon’ble Chief Minister.

It is essential that the people are well informed and enlightened about the activities of the Government especialy in a democracy such as ours. This department plays a big role in ensuring the involvement of the public in the developmental activities of the Government by integrating media and informing them about the policies, activities and achievements of the Government. Feedback of the people on the various schemes of the Government is another important task of this department.

The wide spectrum of activity of the Information and Public Relations Department includes: the Press Release Section that connects the Government to the media and disseminates information on the Government’s announcements, schemes and activities to the media; Tamil Arasu, official organ of the Government of Tamil Nadu, which is published every month carrying information about the achievements of all departments and information on various schemes; the Advertisement Section that ensures transparency in Administration by publishing Tender Bulletins at the State and Districts level and releasing advertisements to the print media as ‘nodal agency’; the Exhibition Wing that runs Government Exhibitions in the Districts to propagate the schemes and the achievements of the Government; the Memorial Section that arranges the honouring of great and eminent leaders on their birth anniversaries and by constructing Memorials and Monuments in their honour; Reference Section that provides the necessary instant information whenever required; the State Information Centre that provides information for research scholars and others; the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu that trains students on ‘the state of the art’ Film Technology to face up to the challenges of film making; Tamil Nadu Films Division that plays a key role in producing News Reel Bulletins and Video News Magazines on the Government’s welfare schemes, achievements and important functions; And most importantly, the District Information and Public Relations Offices that are instrumental in building goodwill between the Government and people including those who live in remote hamlets. The Information and Public Relations Department is being strengthened under the farsighted Statesmanship of Hon’ble Chief Minister, who is striving hard to transform Tamil Nadu with developmental and social welfare schemes to earn for Tamil Nadu, the recognition as the Numero Uno State in India.

The "Fourth Pillar" of Democracy, the Print and Visual Media has gained an inevitable importance especially in this "Knowledge based World of Information Technology and Satellite Communication". Today, exchange of information happens in the flick of a second. Communicating Information on Government’s new announcements, news and activities with related graphics through e-mail to the print media and cassettes to the visual media, has become an important day to day activity of the Government. The Press Release Section at the Secretariat works intensely in carrying out these tasks.

Press Releases and Press statements of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Ministers and various departments of the Government on Government’s achievements, welfare schemes, plans and programmes and related photographs are sent daily to about 100 Press and Media organizations, All India Radio, Doordarshan Kendra and News Agencies through fax, e-mail and in person.

Arrangements for the press meetings of the Hon’ble Chief Minster and Hon’ble Ministers are taken care of by this section. Efforts are taken to ensure that important announcements and press releases of the Government reach the District Information and Public Relations Offices for release to the local media. Similarly important News received from the District Information and Public Relations Offices are received at the Head Quarters and transmitted to the media.

Important programmes, functions, meetings of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Ministers and Secretaries to Government are covered and sent to the dailies and journals. This section also facilitates the television crew and photographers of dailies to cover important appointments and programmes.

‘Press Accreditation Cards’ are issued to eligible media personnel representing News papers, Photo Section, All India Radio, Doordarshan, Tamil Nadu Films Division and Private Television Channels every year, on the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee formed by the Government. 554 press and electronic media personnel have received Press Accreditation Cards in Tamil Nadu in the current year.

These Accreditation Card holders are eligible for free bus passes, 50% railway travel concession and preference in availing TNHB rental houses.

In the current year, 155 Reporters and Photographers of periodicals in Chennai have been issued with ‘Press Passes’.

Reporters in districts are issued identity cards and free bus passes by the District Collectors. They also receive preferential allotment in the rental houses of the TNHB.

In the districts of Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Kanjeepuram, Dharmapuri, Salem, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli and Vellore, 230 journalists have been granted house site pattas at nominal rates.

Financial aid from Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund are sanctioned to the family of Editors, Sub-Editors, Reporters, Cameramen of the Press and Reporters and Cameramen of Television Channels who had been either an accredited journalist or an identity card holder, who had served for a minimum of 20 years of continued service and had died while in service.

Hon’ble Chief Minister has increased the amount of assistance under the Journalists’ Family Benefit Fund substantially from Rs.50,000/- to Rs. 2 lakhs with effect from 4.9.2001.

Journalists’ Pension scheme is implemented for the benefit of retired journalists living in indigent circumstances. When the scheme was introduced in 1986, the pension amount was Rs.250/- per month. This was increased, during a period of time to Rs.2,000/-. Hon’ble Chief Minister has enhanced the pension amount from Rs.2,000/- to Rs.3,000/- during the Budget 2001-2002. 67 retired journalists are receiving Rs.3,000 per month as on date.

A sum of Rs.500 was given as family pension to the wife of a deceased journalist who was receiving the Government’s journalist pension. This amount was enhanced by the orders of the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Rs.500 to Rs.1500 on 4.9.2001.

A comprehensive easy instalment loan scheme for the Accredited journalists to purchase flats/houses from Tamil Nadu Housing Board is being implemented jointly by Tamil Nadu Housing Board and State Bank of India.

Important functions attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister and Hon’ble Ministers, Functions, Meetings, Social Welfare and Developmental Programmes are covered by the Photo Section. The photographs taken on digital cameras are immediately released to the Press through e-mail. This has led to timely publication of colour photographs of the Government events.

At present, the Secretariat has the facility of sending colour photographs by e-mail to the Newspapers. Important programmes, development works and relief efforts during natural calamities in the State are videographed and the cassettes are received at headquarters by road or air. The necessary copies are made and sent to television channels for telecast. This causes valuable time loss. Now using fibre optic cables, the shooting camera would be connected to the headquarters by Web/Video Streaming so that the recorded signals are sent live to all television channels through e-mail.

Similarly, photographs and news on functions taken in any corner of Tamil Nadu could be sent to Headquarters immediately and those covered by Headquarters transmitted to all districts through web/video streaming for release to the local media.

A sum of Rs.25 lakhs has been sanctioned on the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister to establish web/video streaming facility which would be an innovative scheme.

Reference Section consolidates Press clippings of newspapers and journals on the day of their publication and sends them to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, concerned Hon’ble Ministers and Secretaries of various departments for reference and follow up action.

This section files and preserves newspapers of previous years. Press clippings from these preserved papers are supplied to departments whenever required. A computer and accessories along with fax machine has been purchased for Rs.1.50 lakh, and put to use in this section.

Special type of furniture was purchased from TANSI at a cost of Rs.1.35 lakh under Part II scheme of 2004-2005 and is being used in Reference Section.

Hon’ble Chief Minister ordered the setting up of an electronic archiving system in the Reference Section, a novel scheme for the Nation to emulate. This system will enable storage and instant retrieval of press clippings for reference.

All the advertisements of Government of Tamil Nadu are centralised through Information and Public Relations Department and released to newspapers and periodicals. Advertisements of all Government departments, various corporations, boards and institutions are released through the Information and Public Relations Department. Advertisements are released to newspapers after considering the importance and reach of the advertisement and the target group to which it is aimed at. In order to encourage the small and medium scale newspapers, the advertisements are also released in such newspapers.

To give wide and effective publicity, all the Tenders and Display advertisements are displayed in the Tamil Nadu Government Website, namely: www.tn.gov.in hosted by National Informatics Centre, without any additional expense. In addition to the publication of tender notices in newspapers, hosting of such notices on the internet ensures transparency in Administration and to provide fair and equitable treatment of all tenderers.

The State Tender Bulletin and District Tender Bulletins are published every week to further transparency in administration as per the guidelines provided in the Tamil Nadu Transparency Tenders Act, 1998 and the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000.

Tender having procurement value between Rs.5 lakhs and Rs.10 lakhs and construction value between Rs.10 lakhs and Rs.25 lakhs are published in District Tender Bulletins. Tender of procurement value of more than Rs.10 lakhs and construction value of more than Rs.25 lakhs are published in State Tender Bulletins. The result of the tender are also regularly published in these bulletins.

Government Exhibitions are organised by the Exhibition wing of the Information and Public Relations Department to educate people on various achievements, welfare schemes and policies of the Government of Tamil Nadu. These exhibitions are scheduled during April-June in Madurai and Coimbatore and in July-September in Salem every year.

Various Government departments, Undertakings and Private concerns take part in these exhibitions. The Government exhibitions apart from educating and entertaining the general public, also provide direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The exhibitions scheduled in the months of April and June during 2004 at Coimbatore and Madurai were not held due to the Parliamentary elections. The Salem exhibition scheduled during August-September 2004 was also not held due to administrative reasons. A Government exhibition was held in Thirunelveli during the month of July-August in 2004 and Rs.22.16 lakhs was earned as profit.

Government exhibitions would be organised during 2005 in Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy and Thirunelveli this year.

Mini Exhibitions are also being organised by the District Information and Public Relations Offices in the Districts, every year, during festivals and on important occasions.

This Department participated in Phool Walon-Ki-Saire, a Flower Festival held in New Delhi in October 2004 to reaffirms the Indian sub-continent’s Integrity and Communal Harmony. It is noteworthy to mention that this department has been bagging the first prize continuously for the past 4 years.

The Information and Public Relations Department, participates in the Republic Day celebrations at Chennai every year by organising the cultural programme, compering of events and fabrication of Information and Public Relations tableaux and co-ordination of the pageantry.

This year due to the devastation caused by the Tsunami, the Republic Day Celebrations were conducted in a simple and sober manner without cultural programmes and float pageantry.

The department participated in the All India Tourist and Industrial Trade Fair at Chennai and had erected a stall. This department participated on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu in the India International Trade Fair held at Pragati Maidan at New Delhi during November, last year. The department coordinated and organised the showcasing by departments such as Tourism Department, Agriculture Department, Agriculture Marketing and Agri Business, Horticulture and Plantation Crops, TAMIN, TIDCO, SIPCOT, Industries and Commerce, Chennai Port, Aavin, TNEB and ELCOT. It is noteworthy to mention that Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation participated for the first time, displayed the products of Women Self Help Groups at this Fair and made sale for Rs.52 lakhs.

Statues and Memorials have been erected by the Government of Tamil Nadu to honour the leaders who put their heart, mind and soul together for the welfare of the people and those who fought for the Nation’s freedom. 39 Memorials, 2 Arangams, 4 Commemoration Pillars and 1 Memorial Park have been established so far.

1. Perarignar Anna Memorial and Perarignar Anna Museum, Marina Beach, Kamarajar Salai, Chennai.

2. Bharat Ratna Dr. M.G.R. Memorial, Marina Beach, Kamarajar Salai, Chennai.

3. Valluvar Kottam, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

4. Kalaivanar Arangam, Wallaja Salai, Chennai

5. Rajaji Hall, Omanthoorar Government Estate, Anna Salai, Chennai.

6. Gandhi Mandapam, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

7. Mootharignar Rajaji Memorial, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

8. ‘Quit India’ Movement Golden Jubilee Commemoration Pillar, Gandhi Mandapam Campus, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

9. Mozhippor Thiyagigal Manimandapam, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

10. Thiyagigal Manimandapam, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

11. Periyavar M. Bhakthavatchalam Memorial, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

12. Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Ninaivu Illam, Thirumalai Salai, Thiyagaraya Nagar, Chennai.

13. Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Memorial, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Guindy, Chennai.

14. Mahakavi Bharathiyar Ninaivu Illam, Thulasingam Perumal Koil Street, Triplicane, Chennai.

15. Golden Jubilee of India’s Independence Commemoration Pillar (Near War Memorial), Kamarajar Salai, Chennai.

16. Golden Jubilee of India’s Republic Commemoration Pillar (Near Gandhi Statue), Kamarajar Salai, Chennai.

17. Perarignar Anna Ninaivu Illam, Chinna Kancheepuram, Kancheepuram District.

18. Muthumandapam – Vikrama Singha Raja Memorial (the last Tamil King of Sri Lanka), Paalaatrangarai, Vellore, Vellore District.

19. Anna Kalaiarangam, Officers Lane, Vellore, Vellore District.

20. Commemoration Pillar of Sepoy Mutiny, Makkan junction, Vellore, Vellore District.

21. Mootharignar Rajaji Illam, Thorappalli, Dharmapuri District.

22. Periyar-Anna Memorial, Erode.

23. Thiruppur Kumaran Memorial, Thiruppur, Coimbatore District.

24. ‘Rationalist Poet’ Udumalai Narayanakavi Manimandapam, Udumalaippettai, Coimbatore District.

25. Va. Ve. Subramaniyam Memorial, Varahaneri Agraharam, Trichirappalli.

26. Thillaiyadi Valliyammai Memorial, Thillaiyadi Village, Nagapattinam District.

27. Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Ninaivu Illam, Namakkal.

28. Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram Manimandapam, Muthupettai Road, Nadiammalpuram, Pattukottai, Thanjavur District.

29. Kaviyarasar Kannadasan Manimandapam, Near New Bus Stand, Karaikkudi, Sivagangai District.

30. Thavathiru Kundrakkudi Adigalar Manimandapam, South Car Street, Kundrakkudi, Sivagangai District.

31. Maruthupandiyar Memorial, Swedish Mission Hospital Complex, Thiruppathur, Sivagangai District.

32. ‘Thiyagi’ Viswanathadas Memorial, Thirumangalam, Madurai District.

33. ‘Thiyaga Seelar’ Kakkan Manimandapam, Thumbaippatti, Melur Taluk, Madurai Disitrict.

34. Poolithevan Ninaivu Maaligai, Nerkattumseval Village, Sivagiri Taluk, Thirunelveli District.

35. Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Illam, Sulochana Street, Virudhunagar.

36. Bharathi Manimandapam, Ettayapuram, Thoothukudi District.

37. Bharathiyar Illam, Ettayapuram, Thoothukudi District.

38. V.O.C. Illam, Ottappidaram, Thoothukudi District.

39. Gandhi Ninaivu Mandapam, Kadarkarai Salai, Kanniyakumari.

40. ‘Perunthalaivar’ Kamarajar Manimandapam, Kadarkarai Salai, Kanniyakumari.

41. ‘Sathavathani’ Seiguthambi Pavalar Ninaivu Mandapam, Idalakudi, Kottar, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District.

42. ‘Pothuvudaimai Veerar’ P. Jeevanandam Manimandapam, Sir C.P. Ramasamy Memorial Park, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District.

43. Memorial Park in Kayathar, Thoothukudi District where Veerapandiya Kattabomman was hanged.

44. ‘Kanniyathendral’ Quaid-e-Milleth Manimandapam, behind Quaid-e-Milleth Govt. College for Women, Chennai.

45. Thanthai Periyar Memorial, Vaikkam, Kottayam District, Kerala State.

46. Veeran Azhagu Muthukkone Manimandapam, Kattarangulam, Thoothukudi District.

A Manimandapam has been constructed in memory of "Koppalottiya Thamizhan" V.O. Chidambaranar at Tirunelveli at an estimated cost of Rs.75 lakhs. It would be declared open soon.

The Government have allotted 0.65 acres of Government land worth Rs.10.19 crores near Adyar Andhra Mahila Sabha to the South India Artistes’ Association on their request for land for construction of a Memorial for Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan.

Land measuring 0.46.5 Ha costing Rs.43,500 has been acquired for constructing a Memorial for the former Chief Minister Omanthoor Ramasamy Reddiar in Omanthoor Village, Tindivanam Taluk of Villupuram District. Proposal for constructing the Manimandapam at an expenditure of Rs.75 lakhs is under the consideration of the Government.

Land measuring 1.00 acre has been identified for construction of a Manimandapam in memory of "Mootharignar Rajaji" at Mornapalli near Thorappalli in Krishnagiri District. Construction would begin after receiving the estimate from the PWD and allocation of necessary funds.

Private land measuring 3.05.0 Ha has been acquired at a cost of Rs.19.67 lakhs for constructing a Manimandapam for freedom fighter Theeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai of Arachalur Village in Erode District. Hon’ble Chief Minister has ordered an allocation of Rs.30 lakhs for the construction of Manimandapam. A community hall would also be constructed here with an allocation of Rs.20 lakhs from the Modakkurichy MLA’s Constituency development fund.

Land measuring 0.81.0 Ha costing Rs.1,28,253 has been acquired for constructing Athiyaman Kottam with a marriage hall in Athiyaman Kottai of Dharmapuri District. Action is being taken for allocation of Rs.112 lakhs for this construction.

In commemoration of the valedictory of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Birth Centenary Celebrations, a memorial pillar and a manimandapam are being constructed near Virudhunagar Municipal Guest House at an expenditure of Rs.5 lakhs and 9 lakhs respectively, for which the Hon’ble Chief Minister laid foundation on 14-7-2003. The construction is nearing completion.

As part of Thiruppur Kumaran’s centenary celebrations, a bust size bronze statue of ‘Tiruppur Kumaran’ has been installed at Tiruppur Kumaran Memorial.

Bharat Ratna Dr.M.G.R.’s museum has been constructed at a cost of Rs.38.50 lakhs in the campus of Dr.M.G.R. Memorial at Chennai. The museum will be inaugurated soon.

Nine feet tall bronze statues costing Rs.2.50 lakhs each of former President of India Dr.S. Radhakrishnan and Thanthai Periyar would soon be installed at the Parliament House, New Delhi.

Work is in progress to install granite Information boards with the life sketches of relevant leaders in 28 memorials at an expenditure of Rs.7 lakhs.

A full size bronze statue of Thiyagi Shenbagaraman would be installed in front of Thiyagigal Manimandapam at Guindy, Chennai.

An estimate for Rs.36.80 lakhs has been received from the PWD for constructing a memorial and to make a statue for Desingu Rajan, the King of Senjikottai at the place of his death in Kadali Village, Senji Taluk, Villupuram District. Construction of memorial would begin after acquisition of land by the Revenue Department.

On 9-3-2005, Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly that a memorial would be constructed at a suitable place for Rettaimalai Srinivasan on behalf of the Government. Necessary action has been initiated in this regard.

On 10-3-2005, Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly that the house at Madurai - Thirunagar, wherein Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar spent his last days would be converted into a memorial. Action has been initiated in this regard.

The Government of Tamil Nadu honours great National leaders who fought for the freedom of our country and other eminent scholars and leaders who toiled for the cause of language and society by organising Functions on the occasion of Birth and Death Anniverseries to perpetuate their memory.

Every year the following leaders are respected by garlanding their statues on their birthdays.

1. January 17 Birthday of Bharath Ratna Dr.M.G.R.

2. January 23 Birthday of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose

3. January 30 Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

4. April 14 Birthday of Dr.Ambedkar

5. April 27 Birthday of Sir Pitty Thiyagarayar

6. April 29 Birthday of Paventhar Bharathi Dasan

7. June 5 Birthday of ‘Kanniyathendral’ Quaid-e-Milleth

8. June 24 Birthday of Kaviarasar Kannadasan

9. July 15 Birthday of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar

10. July 17 ‘Thiyagigal Dhinam’ - Thiyagi Sankaralinganar and Thiyagi Arya alias Bashyam

11. September 5 Birthday of ‘Kappalottiya Thamizhan’ V.O.C.

12. September 15 Birthday of ‘Perarignar’ Anna

13. September 17 Birthday of Thanthai Periyar

14. September 29 Birthday of Former Mayor Sivaraj

15. October 2 Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

16. October 30 Birthday of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar

17. November 14 Birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

18. December 10 Birthday of Mootharignar Rajaji

19. December 11 Birthday of Mahakavi Bharathiyar

During 2004-2005, the birth anniversaries of the following leaders were celebrated in districts.

1. Rebel Muthuramalinga Sethupathi’s birthday was celebrated on 19.6.2004 in Ramanathapuram.

2. Theeran Chinnamalai’s birthday Aadi Peruvizha was celebrated on 2.8.2004 in Odanilai in Erode District.

3. ‘Valvil Ori Vizha’ was celebrated on 3.8.2004 in Kollimalai Hills in Namakkal District.

4. V.O. Chidambaranar’s birthday was celebrated on 7.9.2004 in Ottapidaram in Thoothukudi District.

5. Birthday of Veerapandiya Kattabomman was celebrated on 15.9.2004 at Panchalankurichi, Thoothukudi District.

6. Veeran Sundaralingam’s birthday was celebrated on 25.9.2004 in Kawarnagiri in Thoothukudi District.

7. Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated in Chennai and in all districts on 2.10.2004.

8. A postal stamp featuring Thiruppur Kumaran was released on 4-10-2004 to mark his birth centenary at Sennimalai, Erode District.

9. A postal stamp featuring Marudupandiar brothers was released on 24-10-2004 to mark their death anniversaries.

10. Pasumpon Muthuramaliga Thevar’s birthday was celebrated in Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts on 30.10.2004.

11. Mootharignar Rajaji’s birthday was celebrated on 10.12.2004 at Thorappalli in Krishnagiri District.

12. Mahakavi Bharathiyar’s birthday was celebrated on 11.12.2004 at Ettayapuram in Thoothukudi District.

13. The birth centenary celebrations of Thiruppur Kumaran was held in a grand manner on 12.2.2005 at Erode at an expenditure of Rs.2 lakhs.

Multimedia Publicity Campaigns are organised in districts by co-ordinating various Government departments to display the activities and achievements of the Government by erecting stalls.

Mini photo exhibitions are also organised during mass contact programme by the District Collectors, held once in a month in every District.

Publicity campaigns are held in districts by various departments to create awareness among the people about Government Schemes, developmental activities and eligibility conditions for availing various welfare assistance. In order to co-ordinate the publicity work, District Publicity Co-ordination Committees were constituted in all Districts with the respective District Collectors as Chairman. The committee is convened once in a month under the Chairmanship of the Collector, to discuss various strategies to be adopted for effective publicity.

In order to encourage the Tamil Film Industry, the Government of Tamil Nadu has been giving away Film Awards to the best Tamil feature films, actors, actresses and technicians from the year 1968 onwards. Every year, a committee is constituted by the Government to select the best feature films, actors, actresses and technicians. The following awards are presented to the films selected by the committee.

1. First Prize .. Rs.2 lakhs and a memento

2. Second Prize .. Rs.1 lakh and a memento

3. Third Prize .. Rs.75,000 and a memento

4. Special Prize .. Rs.75,000 and a memento

A cash award of Rs.1.25 lakh is awarded as special prize to a Tamil film which portrays the upliftment, development and dignity of women.

A five sovereign gold pendant and a memento are presented to the selected actors, actresses and technicians. Dubbing Artistes (both male and female) have been included for these awards from the award year 2000. New awards for Best Character Artiste (Male), Best Character Artiste (Female) and Best Comedy Artiste (Female) were set up from the year 2001. Cash awards of Rs.50,000/- as first prize Rs.25,000/- as second prize and Rs.10,000/- as third prize are given away to films depicting values of a planned and limited family.

Veteran awards are presented in the name of Arignar Anna, Kalaivanar, Raja Sandow, M.G.R., Kavignar Kannadasan, Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji and Thiagaraja Bhagavathar who have made indelible marks in the history of Tamil film industry and won the hearts of the millions.

Hon’ble Chief Minister honoured the Tamil Cinema Industry by presenting Tamil Nadu Government Film Awards for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 at a glittering function held at Madras University Centenary Hall on 3-12-2004.

Selection of films for Tamil Nadu Government Film Awards for 2003 has been completed. Applications received for film awards for 2004 are under scrutiny.

To encourage production of low-budget, social conscious, quality Tamil feature films, the Government of Tamil Nadu is implementing a scheme of granting subsidy to such films. Every year, a Selection Committee is constituted by the Government to select quality Tamil films. The selected films were granted subsidy at the rate of Rs.5 lakhs per film. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has ordered the enhancement of this subsidy to Rs.7 lakhs, from the year 2003 onwards. 21 low budget quality Tamil Films will soon receive Rs.5 lakhs as subsidy, for the year 2000, amounting to Rs.1.05 crore.

In order to encourage production of low budget quality Tamil films, entertainment tax is exempted for a period of four weeks from the date of release of the eligible films.

1. The low budget quality Tamil feature films are granted subsidy at the rate of Rs.5 lakhs each. Subsidy has been increased at the rate of Rs.7 lakhs from the year 2003 onwards. The subsidy amount for low cost quality films selected for years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 will be distributed soon.

2. Entertainment tax is exempted to low budget quality Tamil feature films for a period of four weeks from the date of release of the eligible films.

3. Cash awards, gold medals, mementos, etc., are presented to the best Tamil films, actors, actresses and technicians.

4. Veteran awards are presented to the doyens of film industry.

5. Permission is granted for film shooting in Government premises under single window system. In addition, Rent for film shooting in Government owned places has been reduced considerably.

6. Committees have been constituted at district level and state level to resolve disputes in film industry.

7. A sum of Rupees One lakh is granted from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the family of stunt actor who die during film shooting. A sum of Rs.50,000 is granted if he becomes incapacitated during the film shooting.

8. The licensees of cinema theatres are permitted to charge rates without any ceiling for a period of two weeks from the date of commencement of exhibition of new films in those theatres, with due advance notice to the licensing authority and the Commercial Tax Authority.

To prevent Video piracy, 12 units of Video Piracy Cell were formed. It is noteworthy that video piracy has been brought down considerably in Tamil Nadu, there by setting an example to the rest of the country.