NSD’s proposed centre at Rajahmundry put on hold

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been keen on setting up the premier theatre training institute in Rajahmundry with an aim to develop an alternate base in Andhra Pradesh for Tollywood, as the Telugu film industry is based in Hyderabad.

The NSD had received proposals from state governments to open regional centres of the elite institute, which is an autonomous organisation under the Union ministry of culture, in Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana after which the NSD society had decided to constitute a committee to work out policy/modalities for opening such centres. A source in the NSD told TOI that a sub-committee constituted by the institute considered the proposal of establishing the regional centre at Rajahmundry from the government of Andhra Pradesh. The committee deliberated over the issue at length and observed that the degree/diploma/certificate course proposed to be offered at at the regional centre will not be recognised unless NSD has legal status, which is only possible after it is declared as an Institution of National Importance by special legislation.

“The proposal to declare NSD as an Institution of National Importance is still under consideration by the central government. Hence, the committee suggested that the matter regarding the opening of NSD’s regional centre in Andhra Pradesh be deferred till the status of Institution of National Importance is granted to NSD,” said Union minister of state for tourism and culture, Mahesh Sharma. Bases on the recommendations of the sub-committee , the NSD society proposed to establish the five regional centres at Kolkata, Mumbai/Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, besides upgrading the existing Regional Resource Centre (RRC) in Bengaluru to a full-fledged regional centre. The NSD is headquartered at New Delhi with centres in Agartala, Gangtok and Bengaluru.