In its third report tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the standing committee said that only 73 broadcasting centres were set up during the Eighth Five-Year Plan period as against the target of 93 broadcasting centres. During the period 167 transmitters were installed against the target of 204, the committee added.

The committee observed that during 1997-98 only four broadcasting centres were set up as against the target of seven.

The committee further said that out of the targeted ten community radio centres only two were set up and eight radio transmitters were installed against the target of nine.

The committee stated that not even one community radio centres was set up despite the I&B ministrydemanding a grant for 19 community radio centres during the Eighth Plan.

The committee further observed that the AIR's performance during the Eighth Plan was only 78.48 per cent which is well below the target.

The committee also urged the public service media to counter propaganda against the country sponsored by foreign media and other sources.

The committee said that certain parts of the country were not being properly and equally served by the broadcasting media even after fifty years of independence. The metro cities are however, better served, the committee added.

People in many parts of the country including the North East and other border areas were being neglected and the government was not serious enough to bring them at par with other countries, the committee observed.

The transmission power in border, hilly and remote areas should be enhanced considerably in order to do away with the existing perception regarding the public service media.