TV Channel For Rural Masses

24 July 2010
The rural development ministry is planning to launch a dedicated TV channel for the rural masses to ensure that information about the government’s various policies and programmes reaches the target group.
Rural development minister C P Joshi is working out the modalities with the information and broadcasting ministry. The channel is being planned along the lines of the Lok Sabha TV and is expected to be ready in a few months.
Joshi said unless people know about their rights, it is as good as not having those rights. The TV channel will air a variety of programmes, including a quiz show – along the lines of Kaun Banega Crorepati – where representatives from rural areas could participate and win prize money of Rs 1 crore. The questions would be based on village life, the right to information, government policies and programmes for the rural areas.
The channel would also focus on programmes – like the panchayat system, the schemes under NREGA, the need of watershed development and success stories from across the country in various villages – that will be of interest to and provide information exclusively for rural audience.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, who attended a workshop to determine the contents of the rural information drive, said democracy demands that the public broadcaster be used for building public awareness. The programmes will be entertaining as well as enlightening, said Soni.

Source: Business Standard Quoted by http://www.amicaltmedia.net/headlines.php?pid=546