New Delhi: Announcing the fifth and last tranche of the Rs 20-lakh crore Covid-19 package as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said Swayam Prabha DTH channels have been launched to support and reach those who do not have access to the internet.

Stating that online education is being taken up in a big way, the Finance Minister said, she outlined the steps being taken for the education sector. “Provision has been made for the live telecast of teaching. We have also tied up with private operators such as Tata Sky and DTH to air educational content.”

“Another 12 channels will be added. It will be a great help to students in rural areas. Children love technology and adapt quickly. 200 new textbooks are being added to e-pathshala.”

She also announced that PM eVidya programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education will be announced shortly. This will consist of DIKSHA, a one-nation, one-digital platform facility for school education (one nation, one digital platform).
One earmarked TV channel for each class (one class, one channel) will also be a part of this.

Stressing that reforms would be the focus of the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package to deal with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the package unveiled by her today would focus on MGNREGA, healthcare and education, businesses, de-criminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector undertakings, and resources related to state government.

As part of the ‘One Nation, One Digital Platform’ to be launched, top 100 universities in the country would be automatically allowed to start online classes from May 30, she added.

Also there would be extensive use of podcasts and radio, special e-content for visually and hearing-impaired students.
The Government also proposed to start a programme whereby urban local bodies across India would give internship opportunities to fresh engineers for a one-year degree-level online education programme for students of deprived and backward classes, she said.