HRD gets Law Ministry nod for 50 educational TV channels

After getting stalled for nearly two years,the Human Resource Development Ministrys plan to launch over 50 educational television channels seems finally heading for a take off

After getting stalled for nearly two years,the Human Resource Development Ministrys plan to launch over 50 educational television channels seems finally heading for a take off. So far the I&B Ministry has been opposing it on account of rigid DTH (direct-to-home) channel related rules. But now the Law Ministry has given its nod to bypass the I&B Ministry rules in the interest of larger public good.

The Law Ministry has opined that there is no legal need for the HRD Ministry to approach the I&B Ministry on this subject as the channels do not fall in the category of services. It will be a facility in public interest as it envisages free distribution of educational content to learners.

Once operational,the channels will run eight hours of live lectures by reputed academics on various subjects besides teacher training modules,online questions and live demonstrations. Sources said over 400 hours of educational content is already ready for channels that will cater to the higher education sector.

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As per the original plan,1,000 educational TV channels were to be launched. In June 2011,the ministry sought I&B Ministrys nod and informed it that the Department of Space has agreed to lease two transponders from INTELSAT or NSS satellite providers to set up 50 educational channels through DTH.

The I&B Ministry took almost a year to reply. In May 2012,it declined permission citing new guidelines issues in December 2011. It said the permission to launch a DTH channel can only be given to a company registered under the Companies Act.

A Committee of secretaries led by the Cabinet Secretary was set up in 2012 end to resolve the issue. The panel observed that since the HRD Ministry was seeking nod for uplinking educational content with public rather than private good in mind,the guidelines applicable to firms run on private good should not be applicable to HRD channels.

The I&B Ministry,however,then referred the issue to TRAI,which in a letter dated December 28,2012,opined that the Centre and its ministries and departments should not be allowed to enter into the business of broadcasting. The HRD ministry finally sought assistance from the Law ministry,which noted that an I&B Ministry nod is not necessary.