The Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) and Doordarshan, DD will provide half an hour prime slot on Sundays for the next five years for telecasting Documentaries and Short Films. The telecasting of documentaries on Doordarshan will begin from January, 2013. Disclosing this at a press conference at 43rd International Film Festival of India at Panaji in Goa today President of IDPA Mr. Mike Pandey said there is a need for a platform to screen issue-based and meaningful documentaries. He said, Television has the greatest reach in India where a large section of our population is still without education. Hence telecasting of documentaries on various issues such as education, health, environment etc on Doordarshan will help in reaching out to them. He said Documentaries brought about legislative changes 5 times in the country and influenced decision making on global issues which shows their importance .