DD ad budget crosses Rs 33 million at fag end of 2016-17

DD ad budget crosses Rs 33 million at fag end of 2016-17

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has released an additional Rs 216,000 for advertising and publicity taking the total revised estimate to Rs 33.796 million, just as the financial year 2016-17 coming to a close.

In an order of 30 March 2017, DD Directorate General approved the release of Rs 38.8 million for 71 units against a total demand of over Rs 57.6 million.

Intially allocated Rs 47.58 million for the year for advertising and publicity, the field unit had surrendered a sum of Rs 14 million earlier.

However, the additional sum was given to meet exigency expenses.

The amount was given against the non-plan and Internal and Extra-budgetary Resources of Prasar Bharati.

Earlier, stressing that revenue generation is not the main objective of Prasar Bharati, the Parliament was told that the pubcaster is generating its revenue through Internal Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) to meet its operating expenses.

Minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said in reply to a question that the government was providing 100 per cent salary support to Prasar Bharati, apart from plan grant for creation of capital assets and content development.