US Taxpayers funding a Reality Show in India pumping in millions

In a time when broad spending cuts are jeopardizing schools and airports in the US, one finds a rather interesting and creative or bizarre scenario.  A US Government program is financing a “Reality Show” in India!

In India, one of the most-talked-about television programs is the reality show “Let’s Design.”
Aspiring designers create fashionable outfits using cotton, and this year India’s leading fashion house will showcase the winner’s clothing in its store; the winner will also be profiled in the fashion magazine Verve and win a trip to Paris to meet international designers.
And the American taxpayer helps foot the bill.
The show, now in its third season, is the creation of the Cotton Council International, a trade association representing the United States cotton industry. The council received $20.3 million in matching funds last year under a United States Agriculture Department program to promote and advertise products abroad.

In a way they are doing what they should – which is to create demand for cotton, so the CCI members can sell more of their product.  But from the tax payers perspective, this is rather bizarre!

Source

Enhanced by Zemanta

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.

Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.

You've successfully subscribed to Drishtikone - Online Magazine on Geopolitics and Culture from Indian Perspective.

Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.

Success! Your billing info has been updated.

Your billing was not updated.