Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi,63 Minister of Information and Broadcasting

Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi,63 Minister of Information and Broadcasting Result: 2/10 Dasmunsi gave news channels many anxious moments with his intention of bringing in a Broadcasting Bill and Content Code. In October 2008,he suffered a heart attackhe continues to be in hospital. His brief Dasmunsi came with no clear mandate from the UPA on refashioning the …

Result: 2/10

Dasmunsi gave news channels many anxious moments with his intention of bringing in a Broadcasting Bill and Content Code. In October 2008,he suffered a heart attackhe continues to be in hospital.

His brief

Dasmunsi came with no clear mandate from the UPA on refashioning the ministry but the industry expected a lot from him on broadcasting,Prasar Bharti and FM expansion.

The deliveries

 FM expansion and completion of Phase II through 2008. 241 private FM channels are now operational in 83 cities. Rs 1,609 crore was received as licence fees from private FM channels.

 Policy on Community Radio was liberalised to bring in the civil society and voluntary organisations under its ambit.

 The policy on Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) has opened up doors for 400 satellite TV channels.

Reforms derailed

 The long-pending Broadcasting Bill and Content Code was derailed after protests by the industry but the debate revived after the Mumbai attacks.

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 A suitable regulatory framework for cable services is yet to be put in place.

 Couldnt see through FM Phase III expansion.

Smart byte

The programmes telecast by news channels contain only one-fourth news,and the rest is entertainment. You take licence for one thing but do a different thing. This is not fair.

View from the shadow

The ministry was not a priority of this government. For Dasmunsi,it was never a priority,only getting rights for football was.

Sushma Swaraj,former I&B minister in the NDA.