I participated in the Podar Summit MUN 2021 when I was in the 11 th grade, stuck at home and behind screens. During this time the agenda of the MIB committee - the committee I was selected for - was highly associated with the situation at that period. It was an online MUN and I prepared at home for the same. The position I was allotted was Delegate of Doordarshan channel.

The MIB (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) Committee

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is one of the vital ministries that represent the face of the government in reaching out to the masses. It is entrusted with the task of disseminating information about government policies, schemes and programmes through the different mediums of mass communication. The Ministry is also the focal point when it comes to policy matters related to the private broadcasting sector, administering of the public broadcasting service, multi-media advertising and publicity of the policies and programmes of the Union Government, film promotion and certification and regulation of print media.

The MIB Committee’s Agenda:

• Agenda: Addressing the grievances of the Entertainment industry (Film, TV, OTT) due to the COVID - 19 Pandemic.

• The COVID-19 pandemic was more than a black swan event for the world to deal with. However, other than loss of life and other institutional challenges, the pandemic had brought about uncertainty for the various industries engaging in commercial activities across the world. 'The theatres were the first to shut and will be the last to reopen' highlighted the sentiment within the industry encompassing Films, OTT platforms and Television. Unfortunately, most would regard these to be in the luxury segments and would find it to be almost ridiculous to have their grievances addressed, not realising how they had clocked more than 15 billion in revenue and had stakeholders like junior artists, technicians, producers, actors, OTT platforms, Television guilds etc. who did not have any support or relief fighting to survive the pandemic. In response to this, OTT platforms had independently written to the government agencies including the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister of India had called upon the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to look into these grievances which could be addressed in a cumulative manner. Pursuant to this, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had set up a specialised grievance cell to bring together various stakeholders to be able to holistically address the respective concerns upon having realised how important it was to revitalise this industry at large.

Certificate of Participation