New Delhi, Nov. 14: From next year, children will get to see films produced by the Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI), for free.

Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi announced this today at the inauguration of a five-day film festival to celebrate CFSI’s golden jubilee.

He also announced that the Centre would triple the money given to the CFSI in the next five-year plan.

He called these two moves a “gift” from Sonia Gandhi, who was the chief guest at the inauguration. The UPA chairperson made a brief speech and posed for photographs with children dressed in white kurta-pyjamas and Gandhi caps.

The event was meant to mark Children’s Day, the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru who prompted the formation of CFSI. The organisers screened a clip showing Nehru discussing children’s films with a bunch of kids, including — the audience was told — his grandchildren Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi.

Sonia said though children were usually reminded about their “responsibilities”, they should be made aware of their “rights” as well.