Spl Secy Info Dept J&K attends national conference with States/UTs & I&PR Secretaries

States encouraged to designate SPOCs for WAVES, Create in India challenge SRINAGAR: The National Conference on media, broadcasting, and the creative economy was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs. Pawan Singh Rathore, Special Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir’s Information Department, represented the region, engaging in discussions aimed at strengthening coordination across various sectors of the media and entertainment (M&E) ecosystem. The conference focused on enhancing public broadcasting, media, film, and creative industries, with an emphasis on expanding participation of States and UTs in national initiatives. It aimed to ensure that the benefits of India’s booming creative economy reach local talent and institutions across the country. A comprehensive agenda covered 15 key areas. These included implementing the Right of Way (RoW) mechanism for cable operators, developing the WAVES 2027 roadmap, and strengthening WAVES Bazaar and market access for creative industries. Efforts were also directed toward expanding public service broadcasting infrastructure, integrating portals like the Indian Cine Hub (ICH) and Film Facilitation Office (FFO), and adopting a single-window system for film shooting and live-event permissions. The conference underscored the importance of the WAVES platform, a major national initiative aimed at bringing together creative industries, startups, investors, and global industry leaders. The proposed WAVES 2027 roadmap envisioned a diverse ecosystem comprising CEO Roundtables, Creatosphere, WAVEX, WAVES Bazaar, and cultural and thought leadership tracks. An exhibition and Bharat Pavilion were proposed to showcase India’s media capabilities, promote its culture, and position India as a premier filming destination, fostering international collaborations. WAVEX, a startup accelerator, was highlighted as a vital platform to support media-tech startups, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment in the sector. The conference also emphasized strengthening public broadcasting with initiatives like WAVES OTT, MyWAVES, and Gems of India, which focus on local content showcasing regional culture, tourism, heritage, and development stories. These initiatives aim to amplify district-level talent and bring local stories to national and global audiences. States and UTs were encouraged to collaborate closely with the Ministry to promote government schemes, citizen services, and cultural showcases. The Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2 was a key initiative for nurturing creative talent from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, linking them with industry opportunities. States were advised to appoint dedicated nodal officers (SPOCs) to facilitate activities, identify venues, and support startups with incubation, mentoring, and funding. The conference stressed that the active participation of States and UTs is essential to extend these initiatives beyond major urban centers, making the creative ecosystem more inclusive. States were urged to leverage their media assets for outreach and promotion. Film ecosystem strengthening, including adopting a single-window mechanism for film permissions, was another focus. This aimed to make states more attractive for film production and creative events. Promoting low-cost rural cinema and ensuring accessibility standards in theatres were also discussed to make entertainment more inclusive. Capacity building for DIPR officers through training at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) was emphasized, ensuring departments stay abreast of digital media trends and modern communication practices. Pawan Rathore’s participation highlighted Jammu & Kashmir’s opportunities to engage more actively in national media initiatives, showcasing local talent and cultural heritage. The conference reaffirmed that collaboration between the Centre and States/UTs is vital to building a vibrant, technology-enabled, employment-oriented M&E sector, benefiting from local talent and connecting to global markets.