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Tag: Arun Prabha

  • Parliamentary panel pans DD, AIR for recurring lapses

    NEW DELHI: Expressing disappointment that both, All-India Radio and Doordarshan, failed to use the amounts allocated under the budget for 2016-17, a Parliamentary Committee stated: “Concrete steps may be taken to resolve all longstanding administrative issues.”

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which also examines issues relating to the information and broadcasting ministry, recommended that Doordarshan and All-India Radio need to make sincere and sustained efforts in creating high-quality content that can connect with people coupled with strong marketing strategy.

    Need to address recurring structural and procedural issues

    Keeping in view the financial performance of AIR and DD during 2016-17, the Committee stated that it was inclined to conclude that the under-utilisation of funds could have been avoided had the Ministry addressed the recurring structural and procedural issues.

    The Committee felt that this has reflected poorly on the overall performance of Prasar Bharati which is also evident from the reduced fund allocation for both, AIR and DD in 2017-18.

    To boost the performance of AIR and Doordarshan, the administrative problems as well as implementation related issues need to be resolved on priority. The Committee are of the firm opinion that unless these administrative and implementation related issues are addressed on priority, there is bleak scope for desired performance in the spheres of AIR and Doordarshan.

    Emphasis on promotion of DD/AIR Archives

    It noted that both AIR and DD have rich archives including biographies and old speeches of eminent persons which should be made use for qualitative content.

    Apart from generating revenue for Prasar Bharati, this will motivate young generation and expose them to the rich heritage of the country.

    AIR financial and physical performance

    The Committee noted that All India Radio had has been able to spend Rs 1.0827 billion which was only 61.17% of the allocated fund of Rs 1.77 billion at Budgetary Estimates and Revised Estimates stage for the year 2016-17.

    The Committee noted that for the year 2017-18, the budgetary allocation for AIR has been reduced from Rs 1.77 billion to Rs 1.54 billion

    The Ministry attributed improper response against major tenders, delay in delivery of a major imported consignment and some other administrative reasons for this under-utilisation. The Ministry said there had been acute shortage of staff in AIR at all levels particularly at middle and lower professional levels; and the transition from Government organization to corporate sector has witnessed almost a complete halt on recruitments, training and promotions.

    As far as acquisition of land for new setups is concerned, the Ministry proposes taking up the matter with respective state Governments for speedy disposal of the issues. The Ministry have also apprised that some Schemes are not implemented in time due to local issues including law and order particularly in the north east regions and border areas.

    However, AIR has increased the total number of transmitters from 432 (MW-148, SW-48, FM-236) as on 31 March 2012 to 610 (MW-143, SW-48, FM-419) which include 195 100 W FM Transmitters as on 10 February 2017.

    DD financial and physical performance

    Similarly, Doordarshan has spent only Rs 1.7655 billion which is only 65% of the allocated fund of Rs. 2.73 billion at BE and RE stage for 2016-17.

    As a result, the allocation for Doordarshan has been reduced from Rs 2.21 billion to Rs 2.13 billion

    The Ministry has cited cancellation of tenders due to administrative/technical issues to be the reasons for this under-utilisation.

    Doordarshan during 2016-17 completed technical facility for launch of the new TV Channel “DD Arun Prabha”; placed orders for implementation of Indian CAS (iCAS); for its DTH platform Free Dish; the Multichannel Automated Playback facility set up and installation of Multi Camera Studio Production facility in HDTV format are in progress at Central Production Centre in Delhi; the old ageing HPT replaced by new 10 KW HPT at one location; and completed all towers of Prasar Bharati House. (In fact, Prasar Bharati and Doordarshan are now housed in the same premises.)

  • Govt denies cartelisation in Prasar Bharati, 724 complaints against MIB in ’16

    NEW DELHI: Even as corruption complaints against government departments rose by a whopping 67 per cent in 2016 over the previous year, the Government has denied any case of cartelisation in the tendering process of Prasar Bharati including All India Radio and Doordarshan.

    DD recently floated tenders for DD Kashir and Arun Prabha, apart from tenders for Indian Conditional Access system for its DTH platform FreeDish.

    Corruption complaints rose by 67 per cent, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has stated in its annual report tabled in the Parliament recently. The CVC noted that a total of 724 complaints were registered against the information and broadcasting ministry in 2016.

    The information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu, however, told the Parliament that Prasar Bharati, including Doordarshan, is adopting a fair and transparent system for the tendering process.

    Naidu added that Prasar Bharati had informed the MIB that it was following the rules and  procedures based on the Government guidelines including General Financial Rules (GFR) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines.

    Doordarshan had floated a tender for selecting an agency for channel packaging work for DD Kashir. The last date of submission of bids is 19 April 2017 afternoon. The tenders for technical bids will be opened on 20 April in the afternoon.

    DD Kashir programmes are beamed from Srinagar. An official of DD also denied reports that DD Urdu programmes were being used in DD Kashir.

    Earlier this month, Doordarshan invited applications for an agency to undertake the channel packaging work for its new northeast channel, DD Arunprabha. The last bid date is 1 May 2017.

    Arunprabha would would showcase richness, variety and diversity of local culture and would seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

    Also, five companies including two from Delhi were earlier shortlisted as original equipment manufacturers for set-top boxes for Doordarshan’s FreeDish on the Indian Conditional Addressable System (iCAS). The manufacturers are: Modern Communications and Broadcast Systems of Gandhinagar in Gujarat; Velankani Electronics of Bangalore; BGM Holding of Ghaziabad; and KMTS Engineering and Millennium Technology, both from Delhi. The technology of iCAS has been designed by ByDesign of Bangalore.

    Also Read:

    DD Arunprabha: Bids invited for channel packaging

    DD Kashir packaging agency tenders floated

    FreeDish iCAS STB:  Modern Comm, Velankani, BGM, KMTS & Millennium OEMs shortlisted

  • North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

    North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that a new dedicated Doordarshan channel Arun Prabha would be launched in the first half of January 2017.

    The channel would showcase richness, variety and diversity of local culture and would seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

    In a scenario where the number of operational community radio stations remains 191 after more than a decade of launch of the scheme, the government today said those setting up community radios can now get a subsidy of 75% in all states except the north eastern states where it will be 90%.

    Naidu made this announcement towards the conclusion of the first session of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) here. He said the community radio station is an extraordinary medium which disseminates information in localised content.

    A total of 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement for community radio and indiantelevision’s sister concern radioandmusic.com reported in March this year that a total of 272 applications were still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agricuture universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

    Though the scheme was announced more than a decade earlier, the reach of CRs was extended in 2006 to include NGO and community-based organisations with at least three years legal existence.

    A total of 115 community radio stations recently received interim renewal of their Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) till 31 December 2016. An announcement by the ministry had said that the renewal till 31 December 2016 is till the renewal of GOPA on regular basis, whichever is earlier.

  • North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

    North-East plan: DD channel Arun Prabha launch in early Jan; 90% subsidy for community radio

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that a new dedicated Doordarshan channel Arun Prabha would be launched in the first half of January 2017.

    The channel would showcase richness, variety and diversity of local culture and would seamlessly integrate North East with the entire country.

    In a scenario where the number of operational community radio stations remains 191 after more than a decade of launch of the scheme, the government today said those setting up community radios can now get a subsidy of 75% in all states except the north eastern states where it will be 90%.

    Naidu made this announcement towards the conclusion of the first session of the 28th State Information Ministers Conference (SIMCON) here. He said the community radio station is an extraordinary medium which disseminates information in localised content.

    A total of 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement for community radio and indiantelevision’s sister concern radioandmusic.com reported in March this year that a total of 272 applications were still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agricuture universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

    Though the scheme was announced more than a decade earlier, the reach of CRs was extended in 2006 to include NGO and community-based organisations with at least three years legal existence.

    A total of 115 community radio stations recently received interim renewal of their Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) till 31 December 2016. An announcement by the ministry had said that the renewal till 31 December 2016 is till the renewal of GOPA on regular basis, whichever is earlier.

  • DD 24×7 north-east channel starts on 25 December; Rs 7 crore allocated

    DD 24×7 north-east channel starts on 25 December; Rs 7 crore allocated

    MUMBAI: Pubcaster Prasar Bharati is geared up to launch a 24×7 satellite television channel in northeast India on 25 December catering to the region’s cultural ethos. Prasar Bharati runs Doordarshan and All India Radio.

    The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has allocated Rs 7 crore to the broadcaster for launching DD Arun Prabha.

    Indiantelevision had reported that Prasar Bharati had in April last year proposed that the existing North-East channel be trifurcated by launching two additional 24X7 satellite channels for North Eastern Region designated as Arun Prabha Itanagar and ‘Ma-Mi-Na’ Aizawl. DD North-East telecasts entertainment and information-based programmes in Assamese, Bengali, English and other languages of the north-east region.

    The channels are expected to provide a strong platform to rich cultural and linguistic identity of the region.

    Arun Prabha channel was proposed to cater to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the second channel will cater to the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and the third to Assam and Meghalaya.

    Now, DD Arun Prabha will showcase programmes on the diverse culture of the northeastern states. The ministry has already sanctioned money for this channel, said Prasar Bharati chairperson A. Surya Prakash said.

    The proposal to launch DD Arun Prabha was announced in Narendra Modi government’s first budget. This step comes as a part of Doordarshan’s initiative to strengthen its plans in the northeast.

  • DD 24×7 north-east channel starts on 25 December; Rs 7 crore allocated

    DD 24×7 north-east channel starts on 25 December; Rs 7 crore allocated

    MUMBAI: Pubcaster Prasar Bharati is geared up to launch a 24×7 satellite television channel in northeast India on 25 December catering to the region’s cultural ethos. Prasar Bharati runs Doordarshan and All India Radio.

    The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has allocated Rs 7 crore to the broadcaster for launching DD Arun Prabha.

    Indiantelevision had reported that Prasar Bharati had in April last year proposed that the existing North-East channel be trifurcated by launching two additional 24X7 satellite channels for North Eastern Region designated as Arun Prabha Itanagar and ‘Ma-Mi-Na’ Aizawl. DD North-East telecasts entertainment and information-based programmes in Assamese, Bengali, English and other languages of the north-east region.

    The channels are expected to provide a strong platform to rich cultural and linguistic identity of the region.

    Arun Prabha channel was proposed to cater to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the second channel will cater to the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and the third to Assam and Meghalaya.

    Now, DD Arun Prabha will showcase programmes on the diverse culture of the northeastern states. The ministry has already sanctioned money for this channel, said Prasar Bharati chairperson A. Surya Prakash said.

    The proposal to launch DD Arun Prabha was announced in Narendra Modi government’s first budget. This step comes as a part of Doordarshan’s initiative to strengthen its plans in the northeast.

  • DD to set up four new channels in the north eastern part of India

    DD to set up four new channels in the north eastern part of India

    NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Doordarshan is working towards launching four channels in the north east in the near future.

     

    Three of these channels will be in Guwahati, Imphal, Arun Prabha (Itanagar), and “Ma-Mi-Na” (Aizawl).

     

    While presenting his budget in February, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley who also holds the Finance Portfolio had said Prasar Bharati was actively working on a 24×7 television channel for the north-east, for which the clearance of the Standing Finance Committee headed by the I&B secretary had been forwarded to the pubcaster on 24 September.

     

    The channel was expected to provide a strong platform to rich cultural and linguistic identity of the region.

     

    However, Prasar Bharati has proposed that the existing north east channel be trifurcated by launching two additional 24X7 satellite channels for north eastern region designated as Arun Prabha Itanagar and “Ma-Mi-Na” Aizawl.

     

    The proposal is under finalization for circulation to appraisal agencies.

     

    The proposed Arun Prabha channel will cater to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the second channel will cater to the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and the third to Assam and Meghalaya.

     

    While applauding this move, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which also examines I&B said recently that these projects are needed to be implemented on a priority basis and specific time-frames be prescribed within which the channels would be operationalised. The Committee wanted to be apprised of the progress.

     

    It can be noted that at present there is a single 24X7 north east channel which is inadequate to meet the aspirations and needs of the vast north eastern region of the country, comprising eight states where multiple languages and dialects are followed.

     

  • 100 days of the I&B Ministry

    100 days of the I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi led NDA government has completed 100 successful days in power. And in these days, the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has done its bit to woo the Media and Entertainment industry.

     

    Listing the achievements was I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar, through a press meet in Delhi.

     

    The government is launching a new 24×7 channel for the northeast called Arun Prabha in order to provide a strong platform for expression of cultural identities and for creating greater awareness regarding the region.

     

    Even as a Task Force has been constituted to steer the remaining two phases i.e. phase III and phase IV of digitisation in India, the government has made efforts towards fulfilling the long pending demand of domestic manufacturers of Set Top Boxes to get tax concession (C Form benefit) in order to compete with imported STBs.

     

    He said this will pave the way for implementation of digitisation initiative in India and see digitisation of about 80 million Cable TV homes in India. It is also a step towards the Prime Minister’s dream of a Digital India as digitisation will enable quick penetration of broadband connectivity in India.

     

    The Minister talked of initiatives taken in different sectors aimed at enhancing the outreach of policies and programmes across platforms. Some of the initiatives undertaken have been innovative involving people’s participation, enhancing government’s presence on the social media platforms and strengthening communication at the grassroots.

     

    He said Rs 100 crore had been allocated to Kisan Channel, which will disseminate real time information to the farmers regarding new farming techniques, water conservation, organic farming etc.

     

    In order to facilitate Ministries/Departments in registering their presence on social media the Ministry had organised a half day training workshop on 11 July.

     

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has on the request of the Ministry given recommendations on migration of FM Radio Broadcasters from phase-II to phase-III which is under examination.

     

    Goa has been declared the permanent destination for the International Films Festival of India to develop the “Brand IFFI” on the lines of other International Film Festivals. Although the decision to move IFFI to Goa was taken in 2004 when the National Democratic Alliance was in power, a fresh Memorandum of Understanding was being signed year-to-year for the Festival.

     

    The three-day North East Film Festival held in Delhi recently will henceforth be an annual feature organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals.

     

    The Film and Television Institute of India and the Satyajit Ray Film and TV Institute are to be institutes of National Importance and an Act of Parliament will be passed for this. The proposed Bill would enable both the Institutes to award its own degrees and diplomas and start new activities on the lines of IITs and IIMs.

     

    The office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) has streamlined its Single Window Public dealing mechanism at its office. RNI has achieved 100 per cent success in online e-filing of annual statements by publishers for 2013-14.

     

    Under the Rs 100 crore set aside for “Supporting Community Radio Movement in India,” 600 community radio stations will be set up across the country in the 12th Five Year Plan. This major initiative of the new government will strengthen the link with the population living in rural and marginalized areas.

     

    The Home Ministry has agreed to the proposal of the Ministry for not seeking security clearance for such channels whose security clearance have already been sought earlier along with the Board of Directors. This decision has paved the way for speedy clearance of additional television channel permissions, which will benefit the broadcast industry in a big way.  After the decision was taken, 23 TV channels have already been permitted by the Ministry.

     

    The proposal has been cleared for Rs.600 crore National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) to preserve India’s film legacy by the Expenditure Finance Committee in the Finance Ministry. The draft Cabinet Note has been circulated to the concerned Ministries and the Note will shortly be submitted for approval of the Cabinet.

     

    To ensure people’s participation in Government Advertising through Crowd-Sourcing of Advertisements, the advertisement for important events are to be designed by the people. The Independence Day advertisement designed on these lines and DAVP has invited suggestions for the proposed advertisement to be brought out on 5 September to observe “Teachers Day”.

     

    For Independence Day, the advertisements were crowd sourced for the first time and Independence Day coverage was extended to all media platforms. Similarly, a series of press conferences being organised to highlight the initiatives of the Government and the same approach is being adopted to ensure information dissemination across all platforms.

  • North east India to get new channel Arun Prabha

    North east India to get new channel Arun Prabha

    MUMBAI: After announcing the new Rs 100 crore 24 hour channel for farmers in the country, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has declared that a new channel will also be launched for the seven sisters in north east India.

     

    To be called ‘Arun Prabha’, Jaitley said that the channel will highlight the rich culture of the north east. However, he did not specify either the time frame within which it will be launched or the investment that will be put into it.

     

    Last year, talks were on between the government and the Prasar Bharati for launching an additional channel for NE. Currently, DD North East telecasts programmes in Assamese, English and other regional dialects with various types of programmes. Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had been touring the area last year to find out the feasibility for this channel, subject to government investment.