Currently, the cultural ministry runs several channels on its website, under the 'Sanskriti' umbrella of channels.
The ministry of culture wants to have a few channels of its own to air cultural programmes countrywide. Sources in the ministry said that officials are in talks with the Prime Minister's Office to ensure that the ministry is granted about seven channels.
The ministry of human resources and development (HRD) was given 32 channels early this year, following the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the HRD ministry and several institutions, including several IITs, following a PMO's approval. In these channels, teachings by IITs faculty will be aired.
The culture ministry, too, wants similar channels from where they can transmit programmes of art and culture from the country. The culture secretary, NK Sinha, who was additional secretary in the HRD ministry earlier, is driving the talks. Apart from two internal meetings with officials of culture ministry, Sinha has held talks with officials of the HRD ministry, and PMO Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra. Talks were also held with officials of the information and broadcasting ministry.
Currently, the cultural ministry runs several channels on its website, under the 'Sanskriti' umbrella of channels. The channels, 15 in number, broadcast several programmes in the fields of music, dance, literature, science, puppetry, pottery, etc.
Usually, DTH channels are allotted by the Department of Space. As per government rules, channels can be given out to ministries only for the broadcast of education, defence, space and technology. Culture ministry officials, who have held meetings with officials in the HRD ministry, are trying to bag a few of the 32 channels meant for HRD to be used for cultural programmes.
"However, officials are wary of being allotted those channels under the HRD ministry. The ministry does not want the channels to be in the name of the HRD ministry, to avoid confusion further," said an official, on conditions of anonymity.
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