(28 December 2005 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Prime minister Manmohan Singh has announced the setting up of a committee to help promote the media and entertainment industry. The body will be chaired by principal secretary to the PM, T.K. Nair.

"The committee will identify new opportunities in the areas of information, communication and entertainment where the government is expected to play a proactive role to promote the Indian media and entertainment industry," states a media communiqué from the prime minister's office.

Other members include media advisor to the prime minister Sanjaya Baru, film director Shekhar Kapur, Nasscom chief Kiran Karnik, media personality Sashi Kumar, film critic Ravi Vasudevan and TV producer Amit Khanna.

The committee will also examine various representations made by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India (FTPGI) to the PM pertaining to commercial, legal, fiscal and other aspects of the status of the media and entertainment industry.