34.4% increase in allocation for Information wing of I&B Min

Prioritising its various communication modules like films, Press Information Services, electronic media monitoring centre and visual publicity, a 34.4 per cent increase was today effected in the allocation for information and publicity wing of the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting in the Union Budget.  

The Budget allocated Rs 2,568 crore for information and publicity wing of the ministry, which covers all the above mentioned modules for 2009-10. This was a 34.4 per cent increase over previous year's allocation of Rs 1,910 crore for the same.  

The Budget, however, effected a mere 6.4 per cent increase in the allocation for the ministry's investment in public enterprises like National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Prasar Bharati.  

While in 2008-09, the allocation for these enterprises was Rs 334.40 crore, it is Rs 355.85 crore for 2009-10, an increase of 6.4 per cent. In fact the increase in budgetary allocation for Prasar Bharati alone is more substantial at 9.01 per cent.  

While in 2008-09, the budgetary allocation for the public broadcaster was Rs 326.40 crore, it is Rs 355.84 crore for the current fiscal, an increase of 9.01 per cent.  

Meanwhile, the Plan Outlay allocation under the Budget for information and publicity, broadcasting and North-eastern areas, witnessed a 14.28 per cent increase over last year.  

In 2008-09, the budgetary allocation for this Plan Outlay was Rs 700 crore, for the current fiscal it is Rs 800 crore.