Why in news? The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND) for infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati

Highlights

• The Prasar Bharati includes All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
• Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively.
• It vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organization
• Aim : Enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure
• Major Target: It also widen its reach, including in the LWE, border and strategic areas and provide high quality content to the viewers.
• Priority area : Development of high-quality content for both domestic and international audience and ensuring availability of diverse content to the viewers by upgradation of capacity of DTH platform to accommodate more channels.

What are the other aims of the scheme?

• Potential to generate indirect employment by way of manufacturing and services related to supply and installation of broadcast equipment.
• The project for expansion of the reach of DD Free Dish is expected to generate employment opportunities in the manufacturing of the DD Free Dish DTH Boxes.
• Scheme envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote, tribal, LWE and border areas.

About Prasar Bharati

• It is India’s state-owned public broadcaster
• Headquartered: New Delhi.
• Statutory autonomous body by an Act of Parliament
• It comprises the Doordarshan Television Network and Akashvani All India Radio(earlier media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting)

Board

• Chairman
• One Executive Member
• One Member (Finance)
• One Member (Personnel)
• Six Part-time Members
• Director-General (Akashvani), ex officio
• Director-General (Doordarshan), ex officio
• One representative of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), to be nominated by that Ministry and
• Two representatives of the employees, of whom one shall be elected by the engineering staff from amongst themselves and one shall be elected by the other employee from amongst themselves.

Appointment : President of India appoints the chairman and the other Members