Ambika Soni reaffirms commitment to Public Service Broadcasting Trust

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has renewed its commitment of financial support to Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT), a Delhi based NGO. Under the Plan scheme component for production of documentaries through NGOs, the Films Division would grant funds to PSBT, which has been short-listed for production of documentaries for the current financial year. In the past also the Doordarshan and PSBT have had a successful public-private partnership. Over the past nine years a large number of documentary films have been funded by Doordarshan. Among the National Non-Feature Film Awards - 2007, at least four of such joint productions of Prasar Bharati and PSBT have won accolades.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni on the occasion of Commemorating 50 years of Public Television In India invited suggestions from the luminaries of PSBT trustees for making the public service broadcaster - Doordarshan more vibrant and interesting while retaining its commitment for healthy entertainment suitable for family viewing. Ambika Soni also reiterated that her Ministry would continue to strive to encourage creative skills so long as they honour the sensibilities of all single television viewing families. The Minister exhorted the young filmmakers particularly those who are the beneficiaries of the PSBT-Ministry fellowships, to take up the challenge of making relevant programmes for particularly the marginalized strata of society.

Ambika Soni reminded the gathering that Doordarshan is the only channel with the widest terrestrial reach which caters to the remotest and border areas often neglected by the commercial interests of other channels. The Minister also invited stalwarts like Shyam Benegal (a PSBT trustee), who had made the memorable Bharat ek khoj serial for Doordarshan in the past, to contribute meaningfully to Doordarshan again. Adoor Gopalkrishnan (Chairman PSBT)'s new film Oru Pennum Randaanum, funded by Doordarshan was screened on the occasion.

Community Radio Station to start at Namakkal, Tamil Nadu

A Grant of Permission Agreement has been signed by the ministry of I&B with PGP Educational & Welfare Society, for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at District Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. A Letter of Intent had been issued to the organization after recommendations of Inter-Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. With this, the number of CRS will increase to 53 in the country.

The PGP Community Radio will be functioning with the objectives to disseminate useful socio- economic information, legal and other scheme available to the public, eradication of social evils, latest development in agriculture, animal husbandry and poultry for general public in the area. As regards younger people, the Community Radio will disseminate the developments in education, choice of subjects of study, career guidance, and job market and how to develop personality, motivation, self-confidence, and communication skills.

The Ministry encourages setting up of the Community Radio Stations as CRSs promise to provide an opportunity to the local communities to 
express themselves, share their views and particularly importance of education.