Rs.13.60 crore released to NFDC in 2012-13: Government

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) The central government has released Rs.13.60 crore to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) during 2012-13 against an allocation of Rs.17 crore, the Lok Sabha was told Tuesday.

"During the year 2012-13, Rs.13.60 crore have been released to the NFDC against an allocation of Rs.17 crore for production of films in various languages under the component 'Production of films and documentaries in various Indian languages' of the Main Secretariat's XIIth Plan Scheme 'Development, Communication and Dissemination of Filmic Content'," Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari said.

Tewari was responding to a question by Congress MP Ashok Tanwar, who had sought details of steps taken by the government to promote the film industry.

"We have also allocated Rs.36 crore to produce 15 films in various regional languages and three films in Hindi/English," Tewari said.

Mumbai-based NFDC is a central agency established in 1975 to encourage cinema in India. It functions under the union ministry of information and broadcasting.