PRASAR BHARATI & ITS ROLE

Prasar Bharati is India's public service broadcasting organisation. It operates the country's two major public broadcasters All India Radio (AIR) / Akashvani & Doordarshan (DD)  It was created to provide broadcasting services that serve the public interest, rather than being driven only by commercial considerations.

Establishment of Prasar Bharati: The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 provided the legal framework for establishing Prasar Bharati.

Prasar Bharati became an autonomous statutory corporation on 23 November 1997.

Its creation was intended to give greater autonomy to India's public broadcasting system while maintaining its public-service character.

Objectives of Prasar Bharati: The major objectives include:

1. Public Service Broadcasting: Prasar Bharati aims to provide programmes that serve the educational, informational and cultural needs of citizens.

2. National Integration: It promotes unity by broadcasting programmes in different Indian languages and representing India's diverse cultures.

3. Education and Development: Radio and television are used to spread information about:

• Education
• Agriculture
• Health
• Environment
• Government schemes
• Social development

4. Promotion of Indian Culture: Prasar Bharati supports Indian:

• Classical music
• Folk music
• Dance
• Theatre
• Literature
• Languages
• Traditions

5. Reaching Rural and Remote Areas: Public broadcasting has an important role in reaching communities that may not be commercially attractive to private broadcasters.

6. News and Information: AIR and Doordarshan provide news and information on national and international events.

Role of Prasar Bharati: Prasar Bharati performs several important functions:

• Provides radio and television broadcasting services
• Broadcasts news and current affairs
• Promotes education and literacy
• Provides agricultural information
• Preserves cultural heritage
• Supports national integration
• Provides disaster and emergency information
• Broadcasts sports and major national events
• Provides programmes for children, women, farmers and other groups

Example: During a natural disaster, public broadcasters can provide official warnings, safety information and emergency updates even in areas where other communication systems may be disrupted.

Prasar Bharati is important because it represents the public-service dimension of broadcasting. Its role is not simply to entertain audiences but also to inform, educate and connect citizens.