K’taka urges I&B ministry to grant 3 channels on DD network

Times News Network
Mangaluru: Karnataka has urged the ministry of information and broadcasting to provide at least three channels on DD network exclusively for use by department of public instruction. The state government has also sought directive from the ministry to make them mandatory channels for transmission by MSOs and DTH operators while suggesting that these channels be co-branded with DD and DPI as partners and included in must-carry list under Cable Act.
In a letter to Prakash Javadekar, minister for information and broadcasting, S Suresh Kumar, minister for primary and secondary education said TV has been considered as the best suitable media for home-based learning in this challenging period. As per a survey carried out by DPI on availability of various ICT infrastructure including TV, mobile and smartphones, more than 95% of households in Karnataka have TVs. Suresh Kumar said accordingly, DPI has decided to continue the teaching/ learning process through TV media in Kannada medium.
“To cater to the students and considering a long term strategy to run the schools by maintaining social distancing, Karnataka is in immediate need of minimum three exclusive channels for this process,” said Suresh Kumar noting that Karnataka has government schools in nine languages including Kannada, English and Urdu.
He reminded Javadekar that the DPI officials have had discussions with local officials of Prasar Bharati and they have assured to provide the department with six hour time slot of three hours each in existing DD channel – Chandana on cost basis. Process of content creation by teachers is also on, he said. Since the government is facing hardships to meet capital expenditure in present time, the ministry must help the state out, he added.