Film Bill tabled in Bagmati Provincial Assembly

By Ram Mani Dahal,Makwanpur, June 4: Bagmati Provincial Government has introduced a bill on films seven years after its establishment.

The draft bill has provisions of organising the film sector and making it a source of provincial income.

Although the film sector falls under provincial jurisdiction, the province has been generating minimal revenue from entertainment and advertisements.

 While local governments have been collecting revenue from advertisements and entertainment taxes, they have been reluctant to deposit it into the province’s consolidated fund.

Suraj Chandra Lamichhane, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Bagmati Province, table the bill in the Provincial Assembly. 

He said that the ‘Provincial Film Bill 2082’ was brought with the goal of preserving, promoting, and publicising the province’s religious, cultural, linguistic, and geographical identity.

 He said that after the bill is enacted, it will strengthen the province’s consolidated fund and help achieve prosperity and good governance.

During the theoretical discussion on the bill in the Assembly meeting, Provincial Assembly member Ratna Prasad Dhakal expressed that although seven years have passed since the provincial structure began functioning and film, entertainment, and advertisement revenues are shared responsibilities of the province and local levels, the province has not been able to collect such revenues.

 Therefore, introducing the law is a positive step, Dhakal added. 

Assembly member Surendra Raj Gosai said that the film sector could help make the province self-reliant. 

He added that if developed as a service industry, it could become a strong source of income for the province.

 He said, “Films can be subject to cultural attack, but we need authentic films. This medium should serve to preserve culture and promote unique identity so that it can be a way to reach the world.”

Similarly, Assembly member Dinesh Chandra Devkota said that the law was introduced considering the changing times and necessity.

 He emphasised the need to abandon the mind-set that considers the film sector as one of distortion and anomaly.

 He said that films can project Nepal’s dignity, authenticity, and archaeological importance to the world, making the law essential.

Assembly member Chhiring Dorje Lama said that film is not only an entertainment medium but also an industry that creates extensive indirect employment. 

He stressed that films should be used as a means to promote cultural heritage and identity.

 He added that the long-discussed film city in Dandunge Danda could finally be implemented after the province enacts this law.