Lok Sabha Question No. 2284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Peace Promoting Programmes for Naxal Affected Areas
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2284 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2016 )

## PEACE PROMOTING PROGRAMMES FOR NAXAL AFFECTED AREAS

## 2284. DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI SATAV  RAJEEV: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to counter extremist propaganda in Maoist and Naxal affected areas with peace promoting programmes;
- (b) if so, the details and salient features thereof;
- (c) whether  the  content  of  the  programme  is  likely  to  be  aired  in  tribal languages also, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  install  new  high  power transmitters in areas most affected by left wing extremism; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with funds allocated for the same?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE    MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  AND

## BROADCASTING ( COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)

(a) to  (c):  Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that    Doordarshan(DD)    and  All India  Radio  (AIR)  are  telecasting  Developmental programmes on Education, Youth Welfare, Women Empowerment, welfare schemes for the area, Forest Act  and  Rights  of  Tribals  including  coverage  of  local  festivals  and  tribal  folk music in their local languages and dialects.

The thrust is largely on the developmental schemes/activities of the Government  of  India  and  the  State  Governments.  These  programmes  also dwell on the need of maintaining law and order in the concerned areas so that people's  progress  could  be  achieved  faster.    Programmes  are  aired  on  the theme of  dissuading    the  youth  from  getting  involved  in  anti-social  activities and persuading those, who have misguidedly taken to arms, to come back and join the mainstream.

(d) & (e): Yes, Madam.  As far as AIR is concerned, 06 nos. of new FM High Power Transmitters (HPT) have been planned in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected areas at a total cost of Rs.28.06 Crores, details of which are under:

|   1. | Kakinada    | East Godavari/A.P.   |
|------|-------------|----------------------|
|    2 | Muzaffarpur | Muzaffarpur/Bihar    |
|    3 | Amibikapur  | Sarguja/Chhattisgarh |
|    4 | Dhanbad     | Dhanbad/Jharkhand    |

|   5. | Bhawanipatna   | Kalahandi/Odisha   |
|------|----------------|--------------------|
|    6 | Suryapet       | Nalgonda/Telangana |

In  addition  to  this,  existing  old/outlived  transmitters  at  AIR  stations functional  in  LWE  affected  areas  are  also  planned  for  replacement  by  High Power Transmitters.

As  far  as  Doordarshan  is  concerned,  a    part  of  digitalization  scheme approved under 12 th Plan Projects of setting up  digital HPTs, at a cost of Rs. 6.62  crore  each,  have  been  implemented  at  the  following  locations  in  LWE affected areas:

1. Muzaffarpur   (Bihar)
2. Jagdalpur       (Chhattisgarh)
3. Jamshedpur    (Jharkhand)

Moreover, all the areas uncovered by terrestrial transmitters are covered with multichannel TV coverage through Doordarshan's free to air DTH service.  It is possible  to  receive  DTH  signals  anywhere  in  the  country  including  LWE affected areas, with the help of a small sized dish receive unit.

********