MP Govt asks for comprehensive and liberal radio policy

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Government has suggested that the Central Government should frame a comprehensive and liberal community radio policy.

Addressing the 26th Conference of Information Ministers, the state Public Relations minister Laxmikant Sharma said here today that the institution of national and state level public relations award has welcomed the suggestions to set up Indian Public relations Council.

He said that the community radio policy has fulfilled a long felt need. However, the comunity radio is expected to cater to educational, developmental, social and cultural needs of community, but it is an irony that it is not allowed to broadcast news and programmes on current affairs. This discrepency must go. Besides, it is not proper to fix the same watts limit and antenna height as the circumstances in rural and urban areas are different.

He said Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Department has forwarded a Rs 125 crore proposal in this regard to the centre.

Regarding expansion of Conditional Access system (CAS), the Minister stressed the need for a detailed technical consumer and account audit before its expansion in other urban areas. Before seeking the opinion of State Government directly, they should be given an opportunity to hold discussions with all stockholders and consumer organisations.

Regarding rationalisation of film and broadcasting, the Minister informed that in MP, no entertainment tax is charged from Direct To Home (DTH) operators. However, a proposal in this regard is under consideration. No action has been taken with regard to rates structure as it has been learnt that the Central Government is going to introduce a goods and service tax, which would cover many taxes including entertainment tax, he added.

UNI