The sudden demise of Zubeen Garg has shocked the Indian entertainment world. Zubeen, 52, died on September 19 after suffering a stroke while swimming in Singapore. Earlier this month, renowned Assamese director Rajesh Bhuyan had announced that late music composer Zubeen Garg’s personal project, “Roi Roi Binale”, will be specially screened as a posthumous tribute. The state of Assam has taken this decision in his memory by stopping the screening of all other films like “Thamma”, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat”, “Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1”, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” from October 31.
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The Assam government will hand over the state’s share of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collected from the upcoming Assamese film Roi Roi Binale to the foundation formed by Zubin Garg for the welfare of the underprivileged. Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Vishwa Sharma said there is no entertainment tax on films screened in the state and hence there is no question of waiving it as requested by a section of the society.
Sharma said, the state government will hand over its share of the GST received from the film exclusively to the Kalaguru Artist Foundation, for the medical treatment of artistes, help of flood victims and assistance to needy students in their educational activities. This foundation was established by Garg himself for philanthropic activities.
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Sharma said, “Cinema tickets priced above Rs 100 attract 18 per cent GST and tickets priced below Rs 100 attract 5 per cent GST. The state’s share is half of this rate and we will get the money after about a month. Then we will hand it over to the Foundation. He said the decision was taken after consulting Garg’s wife, who agreed to the idea.
Talking about other Cabinet decisions, Sharma said the government has approved Rs 2,205.75 crore as additional financing for the Phase II of the Asian Development Bank-assisted Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and River Bank Erosion Risk Management Project.