Imphal, July 12 2010: Some of the key initiatives of the redrawn key parameters of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under its policy on drawing board will benefit the North Eastern States, said Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni today.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day All India Editors Conference on Social & Infrastructure Issues in the North Eastern Region began at Guwahti in Assam today Ambika Soni said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had redrawn the key parameters of its policy drawing board.

Outlining the initiatives taken recently, Soni said "some of the key initiatives would be beneficial for the North Eastern States." The phased expansion of DD DTH platform which proposed to increase free to air channels from 59 to 200 would offer a wide bouquet to the viewers.

The digitalization of AIR and DD would enable remote and far flung regions to receive higher quality signals.

The organization of Mini Film Festivals in the North Eastern region enabled the Ministry to take cinema to the people.

Two festivals were organized at Shillong and Kohima.

The proposal to establish the regional centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in Mizoram would enable the North East to become the new 'Information Hub' for the journalistic excellence.

The focus was to infuse quality programming in the dissemination of information and reach out to the remote areas of the country.

The communication strategy of the Ministry aimed to provide quality information by enhancing the outreach of its campaigns through cost effective tools, formats and delivery mechanisms.

Elaborating further, the Minister said, in the last couple of months, structured debates had been initiated to provide key inputs on the issue of content regulation involving key stakeholders.

It was critical to be sensitive to the viewer, while attempting to balance between self regulation and co-regulation.

The Minister added that while huge investments had been made in the social sector by the government, it was imperative for the ministry to spread awareness through innovative communication methods.

It was in this context, that the 1st Regional Conference involving the media units of the Ministry and Information Ministers of the North East was being convened at Guwahati on the 13th July.

This would enable the Ministry to outline the road map for more effective communication platforms in future.

Comment