• In a bid to upgrade Prasar Bharati’s broadcast infrastructure and network, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development’ (BIND) scheme at a cost of Rs 2,539.61 crore for Doordarshan and All India Radio. 

• The Central Sector Scheme is the 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 organisation.

• Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information, education, entertainment and engagement for the people especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR). 

• The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE (Left Wing Extremism), border and strategic areas and provide high quality content to the viewers. 

• At present, Doordarshan operates 36 TV channels, including 28 regional channels, and AIR operates more than 500 broadcasting centres. 

• The BIND scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66 per cent by geographical area, up from current 59 per cent, and 80 per cent by population, up from present 68 per cent coverage. 

• Under the scheme, eight lakh DD Free Dish DTH set top boxes (STBs) will also be distributed to people living in remote, tribal, LWE, border areas and Aspirational Districts.

• Another priority area of the scheme is the development of high-quality content for both domestic and international audiences and ensuring availability of diverse content to the viewers by upgradation of capacity of the DTH platform to accommodate more channels. 

• In addition to enhancing the scope of public broadcasting, the project for modernisation and augmentation of broadcast infrastructure also has the potential to generate indirect employment by way of manufacturing and services related to supply and installation of broadcast equipment.

• Content generation and innovation for AIR and DD has the potential of indirect employment of persons with varied experience of different media fields in the content production sector, including TV/Radio production, transmission and associated media related services. 

• The project for expansion of the reach of DD Free Dish is also expected to generate employment opportunities in the manufacturing of set top boxes.

Prasar Bharati

• The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) is the public service broadcaster in the country, with All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan as its two constituents.

• It came into existence on November 23, 1997, with a mandate to organize and conduct public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public and to ensure a balanced development of broadcasting in the country.

• The Corporation is governed by the Prasar Bharati Board. 

Prasar Bharati Board

• The Board is headed by a chairperson and has three whole time members. The board has six part-time members, a representative of the ministry of information & broadcasting and the director generals of All India Radio and Doordarshan as ex-officio members.

• The Prasar Bharati Board functions at the apex level ensuring the formulation and implementation of the policies of the organization and fulfillment of the mandate in terms of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. 

Objectives of Prasar Bharati:

• To uphold the unity, integrity of the country and the values enshrined in the Constitution.

• To promote national integration.

• To safeguard the citizens’ rights to be informed on all matters of public interest by presenting a fair and balanced flow of information.

• To pay special attention to the fields of education and spread of literacy, agriculture, rural development environment, health & family welfare and science & technology.

• To create awareness about women’s issues and take special steps to protect the interests of children, aged and other vulnerable sections of the society.

• To provide adequate coverage to the diverse cultures, sports & games and the youth affairs.

• To promote social justice, safeguarding the rights of working classes, minorities and tribal communities.

• To promote research and expand broadcasting facilities and development in broadcasting technologies.

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