(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned
`what is the future for AIR`s archive` appearing in `The Times of India` dated November
15. 2002;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein;
(c) whether any steps have been taken/proposed for preservation of these archives; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SMT. SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred
Question No. 340 for answer on 12.12.2002.
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b) to (d): Prasar Bharati has informed that the archival material is not being neglected.
In fact, a separate unit under a Senior Officer is looking after the archival tapes. These
tapes are kept in air-conditioned rooms. In addition, AIR has, inter-alia, taken the
following steps for preservation of its archives: -
(i) A Rs. 3 Crore project has been undertaken since November 2001 to
digitalize the old recordings available on magnetic tapes;
(ii) The contents of the magnetic tapes in the archives are being transferred
in electronic formats, which are resistant to wear and tear;
(iii) Special archival cupboards are being provided for storage of digitalized
archival material, and a highly sophisticated refurbishing mechanism
has been installed in Akashwani Bhawan with assistance of UNDP.
13000 hours of archival recordings have already been digitalized.