HRD, Prasar to enter into agreement to launch educational DTH channels

NEW DELHI: The Human Resource Development (HRD) is set to enter into a partnership which may allow it to establish scores of educational Direct-to-Home ( DTH) channels which will cover more than 67 percent of the population.

Sources told PTI that under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT), the HRD Ministry had planned to generate educational content and homes through launch of 1,000 Direct- to-Home (DTH) channels.

However the HRD Ministry had sought permission from the I&B Ministry to run 50 such channels initially but was unable to get a license as the guidelines specified that licenses could only be given to entities which are registered under the Companies Act.

Following the denial of permission, the matter was examined by a Committee of Secretaries which suggested an appropriate Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the aegis of Prasar Bharati will be a viable solution.

Sources said that as per the agreement, Prasar Bharati would have a role in securing the required permissions for the DTH channels while the HRD Ministry would work to create educational content.