New Delhi: Public broadcasters Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) are set to improve their infrastructure, expand their coverage and strengthen their content by investing Rs 850 crore for the purpose, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
The Finance Ministry has approved the investment in a fresh attempt by the government to help the PrasarBharti-owned public broadcasters compete better with private television channels and radio stations.The sanctioned amount will be invested over FY19 and FY20.
Doordarshan and All India Radio has chalked out detailed plans to enhance their broadcast capacity, improve their infrastructure and increase the expanse of their coverage to match the reach of private TV and radio companies.DD has been sanctioned Rs 200 crore exclusively for this purpose.
On December 4, it was reported that the Centre has started a manpower audit of PrasarBharati with professional services company EY, acting on the recommendation of an expert committee in 2014. The Sam Pitroda-led committee had in 2014 recommended that PrasarBharati ‘undertake a comprehensive manpower audit and human resources planning exercise to map workforce requirements for the future, in line with the public broadcaster’s mandate’.The process is expected to get concluded in around six months.
The rationalisation of resources will likely include shutting down offices located in close proximity to each other, winding up the civil construction wing of AIR, and closing down the National Academy of Broadcasting and Multimedia (NABM) and merging it with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
