DD’s counselling programme gets good response 

Srinagar, December 4

               Live phone-in programme based on counselling for aspirants appearing in various competitive examinations here and motivating women aspirants to take up such examinations initiated by Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, a year ago concluded here recently. 

          Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) examination, 2009-10, was the major focus of the programme.

        According to officials of the Kendra, live counselling series, completed in four phases, provided an opportunity to KAS aspirants to interact with subject experts, KAS officers and officials from the Public Service Commission. The programme was based on more than 35 episodes.

    “Initially, it was started with an aim to generating awareness about KAS, IAS and other competitive examinations among youth, particularly in the Valley. The second phase of the programme was based on offering counselling to aspirants for KAS preliminary examinations,” said Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar.

      Dr Masoodi said after receiving a huge response from viewers, counselling for main KAS examination was also offered. During the fourth phase of the series of the programme, separate counselling for each optional subject was offered.

      He said the Kendra received huge response not only from locals, but also from different regions of the country. The programme became popular with aspirants who had appeared in the IAS examinations this year across the country.

     “Our aim was to encourage the youth of the state to compete in various competitive examinations, but we were surprised to see youngsters from places like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh also participating in interactive sessions and seeking answers from the panel of experts,” said Dr Masoodi. He added that the programme provided an opportunity to the aspirants to interact (live) with subject experts while sitting at their respective places.

     “Our counselling series was multi-dimensional. It helped to save precious time of aspirants belonging to places like Kupwara, Tangdhar, Handwara, Karnah, Kulgam, Shopian, Tral, who would otherwise find it difficult to join coaching centres in Srinagar,” said the director, adding “It also helped them to share their fears and apprehensions with panelists (on phone) that they otherwise seldom express in face-to-face interactions”.

    “After realising the least participation of women folk during the live phone-in interactions, we invited women KAS officers to boost the morale of women aspirants,” said the director. He said episodes featuring former IAS officers of the state and special chunks on women participation were the major attractions of the programme series.