Jamshedpur, April 10: Addressing the concluding day of the centenary celebration of Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal in Bistupur on Sunday, Chief Minister Raghubar Das motivated Marathi community to foray into film making in the state. He also announced a grant of up to Rs 2 crore for those producing and shooting films in Jharkhand.
Since India’s Hindi film industry originated from Mumbai, Das asked Marathi community to start the tradition of filmmaking in Jharkhand with all government support. This came after Saturday�s announcement regarding developing a film city in Patratu in Jharkhand at Gopal Maidan.
�We want to promote Jharkhand as hub of film production. We have already identified a 200 acre land in Patratu where the proposed film city will come up. Our Hindi film industry originated in Mumbai and thus I want the Marathi community to take initiative in Jharkhand too.
Jharkhand is not just about mineral resources but also scenic beauty which serves the best for shooting. The government is all set to help filmmakers with a grant of up to Rs 2 crore in case they shoot 75 percent of the films here,” said Das.
Das added,”During my visit to Mumbai I have personally met Anupam Kher, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar who have promised to visit Jharkhand and take steps to boost film making. We will extend all kind of help for the development of art and culture.� He also cited examples of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler and his strategy as a ruler and the glorious Maratha culture.
Saryu Rai, food and civil supplies minister, Jharkhand, Anand Sen, president, total quality management and steel business, Tata Steel, and Bidyut Baran Mahato, MP from Jamshedpur, also addressed the gathering. The speakers congratulated the members on their centenary celebrations.
While Roy praised the quality of the Mandal’s canteen and its food, Sen suggested the members to draw a plan and emphasise on the work to be done in the next 50 years.
The dignitaries of Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal’s centenary celebrations also launched a souvenir and a book at the function.
Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal was officially constituted in 1916. Before the outfit was allotted an office on Q-Road in 1920, the Ganesh puja was organised at the house of one or the other of its members. Later, the outfit shifted to its current location on K Road, where the puja is organised now.