The Modi government is all set to take democracy closer to the people, with Sansad TV. The newly launched TV channel is the merged version of Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV. According to officials, there will be two platforms of Sansad TV but one will be kept dormant when the parliament is not in session. On the other hand, during the parliament sessions, one will air the Lok Sabha proceedings while the other will air Rajya Sabha proceedings.
The merger of two channels would save enormous amounts of money for the Government of India, while giving it a chance to reorient the programming and improve the broadcasted content.
Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV were driven by journalists
For instance, so far, the content on the Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV was driven by journalists despite there being hundreds of news agencies for journalist-driven-contents. With Sansad TV, the content will be driven by people, who are a part of the Indian government, that is, ruling party politicians, opposition politicians, and policymakers. This will ensure that the viewers hear everything from horse’s mouth and not distorted versions, as in the past.
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Sansad TV is enrolling some of the star MPs, for its various shows. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will host a show named ‘To the point’, in which he will interview various personalities across the globe on various topics. “I have interviewed actor Michael Douglas and a couple of others for United Nations Television, so I cannot claim to be totally inexperienced as an anchor, but it’s a refreshing change to find myself asking the questions rather than answering them!” Tharoor told PTI.
Similarly, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena, will host a show ‘Meri Kahani’, in which she will interview female parliamentarians, as well as other female leaders across the country. “It is an interesting space to be in as you control the narrative… you can ask the questions you want to from the guests,” said Chaturvedi.
A bridge between policymakers and citizens
The policymakers who will be doing shows on Sansad TV in coming days are Sanjeev Sanyal (Principal Economic Advisor), Bibek Debroy (Chairman, PM-Economic Advisory Council) – a celebrated Sanskrit to English translator and Amitabh Kant (NITI Aayog CEO). Many more names may be finalized in the coming days.
Sansad TV was launched just now by PM Modi (replaces LS TV & RS TV). The channel aired the very first episode of my new show Economic Sutra. Here is the recording:https://t.co/bChnrr6SpX
— Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) September 15, 2021
Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal, who will be hosting a show called ‘Economic Sutra’ to explain the philosophical and intellectual underpinnings behind the government decisions, already completed its first episode. “Sansad TV was launched just now by PM Modi (replaces LS TV & RS TV). The channel aired the very first episode of my new show Economic Sutra,” tweeted Sanyal with the recording of the first episode.
Sansad TV is expected to democratize the communication between policymakers and the people for who the policies are made being made for. It might take the voice of policymakers from the Lutyen’s Delhi, to the common people on the street.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said, “What we are launching today is a bridge to authentic, meaningful communication between the people and their representatives.” Calling for meaningful debates to “echo people’s aspirations”, he said, “loud disruptive noise should not drown the voice of people”.
Sansad TV is a brilliant attempt by the Modi government to democratize the communication between government (including the ruling party, opposition, and policymakers) and the citizens of the country, and to save thousands of crores of rupees of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.