Sources said that the matter came up in one of the meetings of Prasar Bharati board in February this year. The board was of the view that since the request pertained to a former Prime Minister, and for non-commercial purposes, the recordings could be provided free of cost.
"While Prasar Bharati has been trying to monetise some part of its archives, it is felt that speeches of leaders are of national importance and should be disseminated among the public. Consequently, the Board felt that the request of the former Prime Minister should be accepted," a senior official said.
The former Prime Minister is reportedly keen on building an archive of work done while in office not only for record but also because there are many scholars interested in accessing information related to his tenure.