Parliament Question: Support/care for aging and ailing workers/technicians from film and entertainment industries

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINSITRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING RAJYASABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3289 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026 SUPPORT/CARE FOR AGING AND AILING WORKERS/TECHNICIANS FROM FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES 3289 : SHRI R. GIRIRAJAN:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION & BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a) whether the entertainment sector contributes significantly to India's GDP and employment, adding ₹5.1 lakh crore in gross output and has created over 26 lakh jobs, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Government has undertaken any welfare measures exclusively to support/care aging and ailing workers/technicians from film and entertainment industries; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (Dr. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (c): The Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector, including films, television and online curated content, contributes significantly to India’s economy and employment generation.

The Government had enacted the Cine-Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1981 to provide financial assistance and welfare measures for cine workers including for the ailing and aging cine workers. However, this Act has now been subsumed into the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, which broadens the scope and refines the definition.

Under this new Code, the term "Audio-Visual Worker" is now used instead of cine workers.

The definition includes individuals employed directly or through contractors in connection with the production of audio-visual content, such as feature films, television, web-based serials, and even reality and sports shows. It is important to note that the provisions of this new Code provide better safety, health, and working conditions for all types of audio-visual workers, through comprehensive regulations.

Also, On the social front, Cine Artist Welfare Fund of India (CAWFI), a public Charitable Trust, was formed out of a portion of profit earned from the film Gandhi in the year 1991. The National Film Development Corporation Limited is acting as the settlor to this Fund. The trust strives to extend financial assistance to cine artists above 50 years of age. Currently, CAWFI grants monthly assistance to about 400 beneficiaries.

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