Hyderabad: The state government would like to have its own satellite in space to provide its citizens with information and details relating to education, employment, health, agriculture sectors etc. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Wednesday that the aim was to have a dedicated Telangana satellite so that the government could relay 10-12 TV channels and ensure better use of technology for social impact. He stated that Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) could help the state in realising this objective.
Mr Rao was speaking at the launch of T-SAT television channels, an initiative of the IT department, here on Wednesday. Meanwhile, experts stated that the Gujarat government has its own transponder on the satellite GSAT-15, through which it runs 16 channels. The minister stated that they revamped the earlier Mana TV network that was confined to 3,000 Receive Only Terminals (ROT), mostly in government offices earlier, and as a result, programmes were reaching 70 lakh homes in the entire state.
“In one year alone, Mana TV got a big patronage from viewers and hence, YouTube views crossed 1.27 crore this July as against 10,000 views in July 2016. The broad motto is to educate, enlighten and empower students, youth and citizens of the state,” he said, stressing upon the need to develop content for farmers and job seekers. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy lauded the initiative and told the Softnet team that runs the two channels that he would not mind spending one hour in studio, whenever possible, to talk to and advise the farming community through the satellite technology.
Health minister C. Laxma Reddy said it would be great if awareness is created in public about preventive measures for various diseases, early detection and treatment procedures through government-run channels. He assured all help from his department for the initiative.
State’s Mana TV renamed T-SAT:
The state’s Mana TV network has gone for a significant makeover along with new names and steps taken to make viewing comfortable and knowledgeable. Renamed T-SAT, this service would offer two channels – Vidya and Nipuna — to reach 70 lakh homes across the state through digital cable television networks. The logo, theme song, mobile app and brochure were launched by ministers K.T. Rama Rao, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and C. Laxma Reddy in the presence of senior government officials and Softnet CEO R. Shailesh Reddy here on Wednesday. Mr Shailesh Reddy stated that they were successful in catering to different sections through wide-ranging content over the past one year.
Coaching classes conducted by senior lecturers and experts for entrance tests like IIT, NeeT, Eacet as well for Group-2, Gurukul and other recruitment tests (through distance learning) were a big hit, he said. He said every year, nearly one lakh jobs were on offer in railway recruitment, banking, army and staff selection commission exams and they would try to guide and prepare students to give their best shot in central exams, besides aiming for jobs in the state government.
