The Central Sector BIND scheme provides financial support to Prasar Bharati (AIR and Doordarshan) for infrastructure expansion, content development, and DTH upgrades. It aims to widen broadcasting reach, including in strategic areas, provide high-quality content, and generate employment, increasing AIR FM coverage to 66% geographical area and 80% population.
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Government to establish Akashvani kendra in Ujjain Under Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme.
It is a Central Sector Scheme, aims to provide financial support to Prasar Bharati, to modernize and improve their broadcasting services.
Prasar Bharati is an independent body set up by an Act of Parliament. It operates the Doordarshan Television Network and All India Radio, acting as a crucial source of information, education, entertainment, and engagement for people across the country, especially in remote areas.
Expand and Upgrade Infrastructure => To provide financial support for expanding and upgrading the broadcasting infrastructure of All India Radio and Doordarshan. This includes building new facilities and improving existing ones.
Content Development => Focuses on developing high-quality content for both Indian and international audiences.
Widen Reach => Helps the public broadcaster expand its reach, especially in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected, border, and strategic areas.
Improve Content Quality => Ensures that viewers receive high-quality and diverse content.
Enhance DTH Capacity => Upgrades the capacity of the Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform (DD Free Dish) to accommodate more channels.
Increased Coverage => Increase the coverage of AIR FM transmitters. This will boost coverage across the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population, up from previous levels of 59% and 68% respectively.
Employment Generation => Potential to create employment through the manufacturing and services related to supplying and installing broadcast equipment.
Connecting Remote Areas => By widening the reach of All India Radio and Doordarshan, especially in remote, tribal, LWE, and border areas, it ensures that these populations receive important information and entertainment.
Free Dish Distribution => Distribute over 8 lakh DD Free Dish Set-Top Boxes (STBs) for free to people living in remote, tribal, LWE, and border areas, to enhance access to public broadcasting.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Examine the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in empowering rural communities and bridging the digital divide for rural development. 150 words |
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