51 co-branded educational channels run by Government in the country

51 co-branded educational channels run by Government in the country

1680. DR. FAUZIA KHAN

Will the Minister of Information and Broadcasting be pleased to state:

(a) the details and number of educational channels run by Government in the country;

(b) the details of steps taken by Government to offer educational channels in regional languages;

(c) whether Government has taken any steps to increase the recruitment of staff in regional centres for creation of new channels and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether Government is planning to strengthen broadcast infrastructure with new technologies like muti-language options and interactive options for the educational channels, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether Government will also provide educational channels in sign language for differently abled students?

(a): Prasar Bharati has made 51 co-branded educational TV channels available to the viewers on “DD Free Dish”, a free-to-air DTH service, as per MoU signed with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics [(BISAG(N)], Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India. These channels can be viewed across the country free of cost with the help of a small sized dish and set-top box, which does not require any mobile connectivity. Transmission of 306 educational TV channels on DD Free Dish has been further facilitated.

 

(b) National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) has informed that the expansion of ‘One Class-One TV Channel’ programme of PM eVIDYA is intended to enable all States/UTs to provide supplementary education in regional languages. Of the 200 channels of PM eVIDYA, each of the States and UTs have been allotted 5 and 1 channels respectively. NCERT has been allotted 14 channels, while CBSE, NVS and KVS have been allotted 1 channel each. National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has been allotted 4 channels and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) has been allotted 6 channels for imparting skill-based education. Test transmission / beta run of e-content on these channels has been initiated. Time slots on various Regional Language Satellite Services Channels/ State Network channels of Doordarshan Networks are provided to various State Governments/ State Government bodies by Prasar Bharati as per their requests for telecast of Educational Programmes.

(c) & (d) It is a constant endeavor of Doordarshan to modernize/upgrade Doordarshan infrastructure, which, inter alia, includes digitalization; adoption of new technologies at par with industry standards; replacement of old/ outlived equipment and their up- gradation, etc. Schemes in this regard are formulated from time to time depending upon availability of resources and inter-se priorities.

(e) Programmes in Indian Sign Language are already being telecast on 12 DTH TV Channels under PM eVIDYA-One Class, One Channel programme. These programmes are developed by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in collaboration with Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

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