Following query received form Ms. Surabhi Agarwal:
Dear Sir,
Greetings
We have planned a programme on Violence against women and wish to broadcast this on All India Radio. Please suggest whether this activity can be done through FC grants.
Regards
Surbhi Agrawal
One may raise one valid question. Generally AIR pays the invited speakers. AIR’s mandate is also to serve social cause. When did AIR start earning money by lending AIR – time on an item otherthan advertisement? Why should AIR charge a non-profit on a programme on social issues?
Yes. If there is a provision in the budget sanctioned by your foreign donor.
Dear Surbhi,
The reason the question has been raised is because of restrictions put under S.3 (g) of the FCRA Act. The section basically prohibits acceptance of foreign contribution by any ‘association’ or ‘company’ engaged in the production or broadcast of audio news or audio visual news or current affairs programme through any electronic mode …..
S. 3(h) further prohibits correspondent or columist, cartoonist, editor, owner of the association or company referred to in previous clause, from accepting foreign contribution.
As the provision above clearly states it is the ‘concerned organistions’ or individuals who should not be accepting the funds. There is no obligation on the organisations who are making the payment. In any case since your programme is not a current affairs (i.e. news on current affairs of the country) programme but more a social issue, I believe it does not get covered even under Section 3.
In any case since the payment will be made to All India Radio, which is a Govt agency and subject to CAG audit, it would be exempt from provisions of FCRA.
From above analysis it appears you should not have any problems in arranging the said programme.
warm rgds
Dear Dialogue Member,
Payment to All India from FC Funds does not violate any rules of FCRA but you have to remember following things.
1. Terms and condition of donor agency.
2. Provision of Fund in Sanctioned Project.
3. Nature of Broadcasting Activities
with regards
————————————–
Sanjay M.Vanani
{B.R.S, D.L.L & P, MSW (NET), Ph.D(Pursuing)}
Lecturer
Department of Social Work
Ganpat University,
Kherva, Mehsana- 382 711
Web: http://www.dsw.gnu.ac.in
Dear Friends,
There should be no problem.
Udayashankar
Yes. It can be done