APPENDIX V
FORMATION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES
 FOR EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTS
 

At their 4th meeting held in December, 1938, the Central Advisory Board of Education considered this question and resolved that, "a strong committee on which educational authorities should be adequately represented should advise the All-India Radio Station, Delhi, on the question of educational broadcasts." Accordingly an advisory committee was constituted Consisting of :-

 
        
                  1.   The Controller of Broadcasting.
        
                  2.   The Station Director, Delhi.
        
                  3.   The All-India Radio Research Engineer.
        
                  4.   The Educational Commissioner with the Government of      
                       India.
        
                  5.   Dr. Sir Zia-ud-Din Ahmad.          Three, non-official      
                                                          educationists           
                                                          nominated by the      
                                                          Board
                  6.   Pandit Amarnath Jha.               in May, 1940.
                                                     
                  7.   Mrs. Hannah Son.              
                                                     
                                          

It was decided that two of the nominees of the board will retire at the end of every two years to make room for two other persons, the retiring members being eligible for renomination by the Board. The term of the two present members expired in 1942. The Board has to fill these vacancies now.

In this connection the Controller of Broadcasting has suggested that the present Advisory Commit" should be held in abeyance for at least a couple of years and that School Broadcasts be given a chance to improve themselves in accordance with the local condition in each place. The Controller of Broadcasting is of opinion that, the present Advisory Committee has done very useful work on all general questions relating to educational broadcasts and now the time has come when local committees at each of the Broadcasting Centres should be formed to pay more attention to local needs. A central committee for the whole of India will be too unwieldy and its functions will become far too great. At present School Broadcasts have become a prominent feature of most of the Radio Stations.

It is now necessary to take the advice of educationists on matters of detail such as timings, the drawing of syllabuses, the co- operation of local teachers and the enlistment of popular

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talkers. These can be more effectively managed by local committees. So the Controller of Broadcasting recommends that the Central Advisory Committee should make room for local advisory committees. Such local committees already exist at the following Radio Stations :-

Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta,and Trichinopoly.

There is one member representing education in each of these committees, but, if this is found inadequate, the Station Directors may be asked to co-opt up to 2 or 3 members from local educationists and teachers. This will enable the Station Directors to vary the personnel from time to time and thus secure the advice of all educational interests in their respective areas.

The Controller of Broadcasting states that the alternative to this suggestion is the constitution of a Local Educational-Advisory Committee in addition to the general advisory committee at each station; but he does not favour such multiplication of Committees because it would mean more clerical work for his staff and more committee engagements for himself and Station Directors, and also because he, fears that it may give rise to demands for separate Advisory Committees for other categories of programmes such as music, drama, talks, new etc.

If the Board approves of the suggestion. made by the Controller of Broadcasting, they are requested to nominate representatives of education on the local committees. These nominees of the Board will hold office for two years, and service on the committees will be entirely honorary except that those who live outside the Station to which they are attached may claim travelling allowance at the rate of 1 1/2 first class railway fares plus -/6/for road mileage . No daily allowance will be permissible.

The Board are also requested to consider the suggestion of the Controller of Broadcasting that Station Directors be authorised to co- opt 2 or 3 educationists and teachers wherever necessary.