Ministry of Information & Cultural Affairs (West Bengal)

The ministerial team is headed by the Cabinet Minister for Information & Cultural Affairs, who may or may not be supported by Ministers of State. Civil servants are assigned to them to manage the ministers' office and ministry. The current head of the ministry is Mamata Banerjee who is also the Chief Minister of West Bengal. == Directorates ==

• Information • Culture • Archaeology and Museums • Films • Basumati Corporation Limited == Information Directorate ==

The Information Directorate is entrusted with the responsibility of disseminating information of public importance, maintaining public relation, generating public awareness about different issues of great significance, propagating policy and programmes of the Government, ventilating news and views of the State Government, co-coordinating media related issues, releasing advertisements on behalf of the State Government through its various offices in Kolkata,Delhi,Siliguri and other offices stretching from sub-divisions to district level and also gather information about the socio-economic and cultural situation and public opinion of the society from grass root level. It has a State hospitality wing which facilitates guests and dignitaries during their visit in the State. It organizes the State ceremonies as well as birth and death anniversaries of many notable persons. == Culture Directorate ==

The Directorate of Culture has been working to boost that rich legacy by regularly organizing festivals and events on various genres like music, literature, theatre, fine arts, and dance, apart from promoting the wide-ranging folk varieties of the state. It focuses on nurturing new talents, providing a platform to artistes and organizations and ensuring assistance to artistes who are elderly and belong to the financially weaker strata. A number of academies and institutes operate under the Directorate, to ensure promotion of languages spoken in the state and representation to all sections of the society. == Archaeology and Museums Directorate ==

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has been looking after ancient and historical monuments as well as conducts excavation works regularly to unearth archaeological sites and remains either by itself or encouraging educational institutions of repute to explore these objectives Apart from State Archaeological Museum in Kolkata this Directorate has six District level museums where invaluable antiquities are well preserved and displayed to the common men. This Directorate publishes books regularly and has had its own publication namely “Purabritya”. The Centre for Archaeological Studies & Training and West Bengal Heritage Commission also comes under the directorate. == Film Directorate ==

The Film Directorate is the primary agency for maintaining cordial relations with the film and television industry and plays a major role for the development and progress of the same in Bengal through multifarious activities. The rich heritage of the State’s film legacy is consistently projected and looked after all throughout the year by this directorate through sustained efforts. The Kolkata International Film Festival, filming destination at the West Bengal Tele Akademy in Baruipur, commercial screening of Bengali films at subsidized rates at Nandan and Radha Studio, a 2-year diploma course on film making at Roopkala Kendra, digitization and restoration work of cinematograph films preserved at the State Government owned Film Vaults at the Cinema Centenary Building and Rupayan and shooting activities for films and television at the Technicians’ Studio are the units of functionality for this directorate. This directorate also runs the Film Workers’ Welfare Fund for distinguished cine worker and a medical insurance for the cine artistes, technicians and their family members. == References ==