March 22, 2022
Md Nadimul Haque makes a Special Mention on PrasarBharati’s decision of closing down Doordarshan’s terrestrial services
Sir, Prasar Bharati’s decision to close down Terrestrial Services of Doordarshan and All India Radio has several far-reaching negative consequences. At a time when COVID has made essential the access to information, have its implications on actual life and death, this closure is perhaps based on the assumption that all households in the country have access to information through internet or DTH services. Data shows that more than 70 lakh households in the country still do not have access to either service, making them entirely reliant on Government provided terrestrial services such as those of the DD. Such terrestrial services are also our most reliable means of communication during disasters and calamities. Considering that we are one of the top three countries globally that bears the maximum brunt of natural disasters, the value of such a service cannot be discounted. Terrestrial transmission is also a considerable counter to the illegal network penetration of neighbouring countries in the border States. The localized nature of these services and their ability to deliver reception on portable networks despite weather conditions makes it an important asset for maintenance of law and order in the border zones. This closure must be recalled and the Government should conduct a study to build and digitize the service’s capacity.
