ICAI plans launching a television channel!!!

The world's second-largest accountancy body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), is planning to launch a television
channel to reach out to its 3.5-lakh students and 1.5-lakh professional members.

Currently, ICAI airs four hour of interactive educational programme a day through IGNOU's Gyandarshan channel. However, the institute is not comfortable with the time slots available on Gyandarshan.

"We are in talks with satellite serviceproviders and assessing commercial viability," ICAI president Ved Jain told ET. He was talking on the sidelines of international conference on 'Accounting Profession Shining Bridge between Global Economies' on Saturday. The proposed channel is likely to be free to air and accessible overseas also to reach out to all its students and members.

ICAI is considering broadcasting 12 hour of programming a day for students and its members. It may be mentioned here that CA professionals have to take mandatory 20 hours of training every year. "We feel that with increasing base of membership and students in India and overseas we need to have a mass medium. Our own channel will enable us to reach out to students and professionals more effectively. Also, students will get access to the best resource persons nationwide," Mr Jain said.
It was learnt that besides reaching out to its students, the institute will also be able to control the increasing influence of private coaching classes. Proposed channel will have interactive sessions where students will be able to put forward their queries through phone calls, SMS and emails in live sessions.

ICAI has already made its course curriculum available on CDs and internet. It has also set up a helpline for its students. The institute is aiming to improve quality of its education through all modern modes of communications.