9.38 Research and Development in Telecommunications is carried out in various wings of the Ministry of communications (MOC) e.g. Telecommunication Research Centre; Telecom Factories at Bombay, Calcutta, Jabalpur; Overseas Communication Service (OCS); Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), and Hindustan Teleprinters Limited (HTL)
9.39 S & T activities in the areas of telecommunications proposed for the Seventh Plan:
1. Development of SPC-2 Local and Trunk Automatic Exchanges.
2. Development of Stored Programme Control for Electro- Mechanical Switching System.
3. Development of large capacity swiching system for telegraph network, for eliminating transitting operations and inter-working between the two switching nodes through satellite.
4. Development of Telematic Services.
5. Development of Computer programmes for local and national network planning.
6. Alternate Sources of Energy.
- Powering of Satellite Ground Station by Solar Energy.
- Powering of SAX, M/W repeater by wind energy and-or wind- cum-solar energy.
- Solar Power Airconditioning.
- Solar Powered Exchange with Hydro-Storage.
- Thermo-electric Generator.
- Running a small exchange by biogas.
7. Development of 140 Mb/S wide band digital M/W system working 4, 6 and 11 GH-bands.
8. Single channel (chl), 2 chl, 10 chl digital systems for rural telecom network.
9. Development of 140 Mb/S; 505 Mb/S and 1.12 Gb/S fibre system.
10. Development of 140 Mb/S and higher system on coaxial media.
11. Pilot Project for satellite based telegraph network.
12. Development of small capacity PCM digital local/ transit exchange and PABX's.
13. Development of digital U.H.F. Systems.
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9.40 In ITI, the primary emphasis will be on digital radio and line systems, advanced versions of digital multiplexing heirarchy, SPC digital telephone and telex exchanges, electronic and digital subscriber instruments, investigative work and field trials of ISDN, and large scale introduction of fibre optic technology. In the satellite communication field, the thrust will be to develop a range of products to enable full utilisation of the INSAT and future communication satellites. To keep the products competitive in comparison with those available internationally, great emphasis will be placed on the use of custom hybrid micro-circuits, LSI-VISI chips and other modern packaging strategies. During the product development phase, it is proposed to lay a greater degree of stress on reliability and maintainability, both of hardware and software. High volume manufacture and rapid and error-free transfer of know-how from R&D to production divisions are two other areas which will need to be addressed.
SOUND BROADCASTING, TELEVISION AND INFORMATION SERVICES
Introduction 9.41 The major thrust of the plan relating to mass, media will be to raise the level of peoples' consciousness and enrich their cultural and social life and make them better informed citizens. It will assist in stepping up the pace of development of programmes and sensitise the people towards national and international events of importance. Besides entertainment, programmes covering sports, culture and fine arts will be provided. There will also be target- group oriented programmes i.e. for youths, women, children and weaker sections. Further the media will act as a vehicle of education and extension and so, narrow information gaps faced by the people from different walks of life. It will assist in enlarging the scope of formal education through special schemes like open universities.
9.42 The use of media will help in spreading the message of national integration and motivate the people to put in their best for achieving the national objectives. For this purpose, a skillful synthesis between traditional and folk forms of communication on the one hand, and the modern audio-visual media including satellite communication on the other, will be fully exploited. Radio, T.V. films and other forms of audio-visual media will be pressed into service for this purpose.
Sixth Plan Review 9.43 The Sixth plan outlay for plan schemes of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is Rs. 240.33 crores. The anticipated expenditure for the five year period 1980-85 is estimated at Rs. 244.99 crores. Details of outlay and expenditure for the four sectors are shown in Table 9.2:-
Table 9.2
(Rs. crores)
VI Plan
Sector VI Plan anticipa-
outlay ted ex-
penditure
Sound Broadcasting 122.38 84.80
Doordarshan *86.95 133.71
Films media 23.15 18.17
Information and publicity 7.85 8.31
240.33 244.99
*Additional schemes for TV: TV Special Programme-Rs. 68 crores; North Eastern Plan-Rs. 36.43 crores; Additional equipment for TV centres-Rs. 8.99 crores; Electronic equipment-Rs. 8.62 crores; total TV outlay-Rs. 208.39 crores.
9.44 With the completion of Sixth Plan projects, coverage by AIR has increased to 95 per cent of the population and 86 per cent by area and TV coverage to 33 per cent of population and 17 per cent of the area. A special TV expansion plan was, however, drawn up involving an additional expenditure of Rs. 68 crores to cover 70 per cent population of the country by November 1984. The Scheme envisaged provision of 13 high power and 113 low power additional transmitters. Subsequently, six more LPTs were sanctioned, in addition to three new schemes: (1) Provision of Electronic News Gathering equipment at various Doordarshan Kendras & procurement of transportable earth terminal: (2) Augmentation of electronic equipment at various Doordarshan Kendras, and (3) Exapansion of TV service in the North- Eastern Region. On the completion of these schemes, there will be 186 TV transmitters of varying powers in the TV network, covering about 70 per cent population of the country. On completion of the scheme regarding TV coverage of the NorthEastern Region, about 80 per cent population of that region would get TV coverage.
9.45 In regard to schemes relating to sound broadcasting the stress during the Sixth Plan had been on the following: completing spill over programmes, consolidating and expanding existing regional services, upgrading the power of existing transmitters, providing integrated shortwave service for North-Eastern Region, setting up permanent studios at auxiliary centres, setting up of new radio stations in uncovered pockets, making a beginning towards a dedicated national channel.
9.46 Schemes relating to information and film media in the Sixth Plan aimed at building an infrastructure in the rural and remote areas and at highlighting the developmental schemes for the welfare of the poor, weaker and backward sections. The Song and Drama Division set up second Sound and Light Field Unit and a pilot project to
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utilise the folk forms of tribal areas. Field Publicity aimed at setting up units in all the major districts of the country. The Press Information Bureau opened new Office-cumInformation centres and took up special conducted tours of press correspondents to tribal and hilly areas. The thrust of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity's effort was towards integrated development of rural areas with emphasis on weaker sections of society like small and marginal farmers, people of tribal and hilly areas and North-Eastern Region by augmenting its production and distribution of publicity material and strengthening its exhibition units. The plan of Films Division included increase in the number of prints for release in theatres, construction of its building at Bombay, augmentation of production facilities in Defence Film Production Unit at Delhi and opening new centres for production of films in 16 mm. specially for rural audiences. National Film Archives of India's Plan included a scheme to construct its own building to house film processing laboratory, library, museum, etc., and to set up regional archival centres. The Children's Film Society aimed at stepping up production of children's feature films and import good quality children's films. National film Development Corporation played a purposeful role for the development of good cinema and financing of theatre construction.
Seventh Plan Approach 9.47 In the Seventh Plan, the stress will be on productivity, and on providing a perspective of the new phase development. As far as possible, hardware infrastructure will be consolidated. Efforts will be made to establish and strengthen inter-linkages between the existing infrastructure and development programmes. New Management modes and organisational arrangements will be established for effective implementation. The low power transmitters (LPTs) of Doordarshan already installed will be adapted to provide communication support to the massive development programmes envisaged in the Seventh Plan. Programme production facilities will be provided at 48 existing centres and community participation in local specific programmes will be ensured. For All India Radio, F.M. transmitters will be used as local radio in a community-access mode with maximum local participation in programme production and for projecting the theme of national solidarity and development. The powerful Vividh Bharathi commercial channel will also be used for dissemination of vital developmental messages. For this purpose linkages with extension staff will be established for utilisation of the broadcast message. The Film media will establish and strengthen the parallel feature film movement in the country in which films would deal with matters of social urgency in a highly artistic and creative format and be highly communicative. Production and co-production of low-cast, quality films will be undertaken. The Films Division will provide infrastructure and funds for production of documentaries. In the Information sector, disciplines, like management, marketing, system analysis, advertising techniques and behavioural and social sciences will be inducted to make it more effective. The Field Publicity units will undertake inter-personal communication in an extension mode. The Information media units will function better as a result of overall systems planning. The facilities provides by INSAT-IB will be utilised in full by Doordarshan and Sound Broadcasting.
Sound Broadcasting 9.48 The first task of AIR during the Seventh Plan is to complete all the spill over schemes like 1000 KW medium wave transmitter at Nagpur, 250 KW short wave transmitters at Delhi and Aligarh and 500 KW short wave transmitters at Bangalore. The main thrust is to maximise the day-time coverage by providing new radio stations in uncovered pockets and to take necessary steps to compensate for the night-time shrinkage that takes place as a result of interference from the high power transmitters of neighbouring countries. Special emphasis in this regard is being given to border, tribal and backward areas. Owing to the megawatt race in the neighbouring countries, there is tremendous erosion in the service area of our medium wave transmitters. The technology of F.M. will circumvent this problem of medium wave shrinkage and during the Seventh Plan a large number of FM transmitters will be installed. Other schemes are consolidation of regional shortwave support service, utilisation fo FM service for local radio mode in the country, upgradation of power of medium wave transmitters; strengthening and consolidation of External Service Transmitters; replacement and modernisation of obsolete equipment; expansion of radio networking through INSAT; providing alternative power supply; Science and Technology; software schemes etc.
9.49 A total provision of Rs. 700 crores has been made for Sound Broadcasting including Rs. 86 crores for spill over schemes; Rs. 97 crores for modernisation and renewal of existing equipment in the network and the rest for new schemes.
Television 9.50 A three-tier service is to be introduced during the Seventh Plan period in a phased manner. A T.V. Service for the whole country with Delhi as a main production centre drawing programmes from other production centres would be set up for projecting aspects of all India interest. Each major State will have its own primary service, originating in the State in the language of the State, to be available throughout the State. Local service will be broadcast through the local transmitters. Programme production facilities would be provided at selected centres for local specific programmes. Replacement and
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modernisation of obsolete equipment by modern colour equipment is to be taken up on a priority basis.
9.51 Augmentation of facilities at existing centres will consist of continuing booths, continuity studios, colour OB Vans etc. Studio facilities with colour OB Vans and post-production facilities will be located at some of the capital cities. Electronic News Gathering Electronic Field Production vans are proposed for production of field programmes at major centres.
Regional ENG teams are to be stationed at some centres to cover important events of national and regional importance at short notice. The border areas are to be covered at selected places. New micro-wave links, additional end-links and uplinks are also to be set up. A staff training institute will also be set up during the Seventh Plan to train personnel for manning the new centres.
9.52 As technological advance in the hardware sector takes place, it is imperative to enrich the contents of the programme itself. Concentrated attention will be paid to software aspect of the T.V. System. For this purpose, the creative talents in the field of culture, social changes, science and technology will also be drawn upon. Its aim would be to draw the local talent into programming and to inculcate among the people a scientific temper and modern outlook which provides the bedrock of national integration. Care will be taken not to project themes which may have pernicious consequences of conspicuous consumerism and lead to social divisiveness.
9.53 A provision of Rs. 700 crores has been made for Doordarshan during the Seventh Plan, which includes Rs. 163.56 crores for spill over schemes and Rs. 93.98 crores for replacement and modernisation of equipment.
Science & Technology Programmes 9.54 The Research Department of All India Radio (Ministry of I & B) is responsible for carrying out research studies and investigations, apart from rendering specialised service to support the operational needs of the network, and also for developing equipment which are not manufactured in the country and are required on a limited scale. The activities of the Research Department cover the' needs of broadcasting which includes Akashvani and Doordarshan.
9.55 The strengthening of R & D activities is proposed in the areas of:
Propagation studies in M.F., H.F., V.H.F.; Studies relating to design and development of TV studios, transmitting equipment and aerials; Digital techniques, remote control and automation;
Digital Television;
Development of F.M./H.F. aerials;
Stereophonic Broadcasting; and
Audio and acoustic engineering studies.
In addition, several new schemes have been proposed as indicated below:
New TV system development, e.g., digital television. MAGTV, HDTV, Video Automatic system etc. Fibre optics for transmission links.
Microwave Broadcasting Techniques.
Antenna systems for microwave transmitting/receiving. Microwave propagation studies.
New projects under audio and acoustic engineering. New projects under TV Broadcasting.
Use of micro-computers/micro processors in sound and TV broadcasting.
9.56 Significant support work relating to the area of radio and TV broadcasting is carried cut under ISRO (notably at SAC, Ahmedabad), by BEL (which is the manufacturer of major equipment needed by Akashvani and Doordarshan), NPL (Particularly on propagation studies) etc. under their own charters and programmes.
Films 9.57 There are ten units in the film sector. The Films Division will complete the 2nd and 3rd phases of its building programme. It will provide funds for the production of special films in 16 mm. specifically intended for rural audiences. Private producers will be encouraged to produce these films. It has a scheme to augment production of documentary films for the North-Eastern Region. The schemes of the National Films Archives of India include air- conditioning of their film vaults, construction of specialised vaults for nitrate films and acquisition of archival films and film materials. The Film & Television Institute of India has training schemes in various aspects of film making for colour T.V. The Children's Film Society will produce, purchase and dub children's films and organise children's film festivals. The main scheme of the National Film Development Corporation is the production and co- production of high quality, low cost films which can be used in Doordarshan and also in the video parlours. It also proposes to have a chain of theatres in State capitals and acquire playing time in theatres. An outlay of Rs. 41.51 crores has been made in the Seventh Plan for the film sector.
Information Media 9.58 There are eleven units in this sector. The Press Information Bureau will introduce a computerised system of indexing and strengthening of photo and feature unit and set up telephone service at regional branch offices. The Publications Division is to continue its schemes of sales promotion and publication of Yojana in different languages. The Research and Reference Division is to modernise its National Documentation Centre on mass communication. The Directorate of Advertising and Visual