PM's promise to help HP tribals watch Doordarshan unfulfilled

SHIMLA: A Rs six crore special package to help people in the tribal districts of Himachal Pradesh watch Doordarshan programmes is yet to be implemented two years after it was announced by the Prime Minister as officials said the scheme would not serve its intended purpose.

The package promised to provide only direct to home (DTH) receiver antenna without mentioning television.
   
In the absence of TV, the DTH antenna would be f no use, sources in Prasar Bharti said here.

Only antenna has been approved for installation in the districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti and Bharmour, the sources said. The centre has provided both antenna and colour TV in the North Eastern states.

Doordarshan Directorate in Delhi has recently approved tender for supply of 20,000 antenna to the state which would be handed over to the government, the sources said.

If the state government were to provide colour TV for each of the 20,000 DTH antenna, it would incur an expense of about Rs 16 crore, official sources said.

Congress MLA from Kinnaur, Jagat Singh Negi told PTI he would raise the matter in the Tribal Advisory Council meeting scheduled on August 2 next, which is headed by the Chief Minister.

His counterpart from Bharmour, Thakur Singh Bharmouri said he would also take up the matter with the CM.

Negi said when the Prime Minister had visited Kinnaur in 2005 to take stock of the damage caused by heavy rains, the people had requested him to help them watch TV programmes.

The PM had announced Rs six crore for the same, the congress MLA said.