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Minor changes likely in Prasar Bharati Act

The 70-page report by the three member committee appointed by information broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, to renew Prasar Bharati Corporation, may lead to few minor changes in the Prasar Bharati Act, if accepted by government of India.

The report will be made public in a few weeks. Explaining this, the chairman of the review committee Shunu Sen said that they had also recommended one CEO and not too many conflicting authorities. “The committee strongly feels that having other executives of Prasar Bharati would undermine the authority of the CEO”, the brief note submitted by the Panel observes.

In suggesting this, the review committee has also struck down on 22 member committee suggested by the original Prasar Bharati Act of 1997.

The committee (which had Discovery India Chief Kiran Karnik, marketing expert Shunu Sen and Infosys Chief Narayan Mistry as its three members), which had submitted its report last week has also suggested that Prasar Bharati should be financially self-sufficient within five years so that it would need no major funding from the government.

“The role of a public broadcaster requires it to be autonomous. While Prasar Bharati should be accountable to the Parliament for its policy and strategy direction, the organisation would be responsible for its own operation and tactical decision” Shunu Sen informed journalists after presenting the recommendation to the ministry. The committee has also recommended a new management council for day-to-day work, in addition to the Prasar Bharati Board which should concentrate on policy decision.

Set up on November 23 last year, the committee took five months to give its report. It has also suggested a total revamp and repositioning of all the channels of Doordarshan. “Starting with DD1, which should have four hours of local programming. And given its reach DD Metro should be made competitive.” Sen said.

The committee has also suggested autonomy, decentralisation and transparency within the organisation. It has also suggested that Doordarshan and All India Radio should get benefits from the new technology and developments like Internet, Interactive TV, Direct to Home (DTH) Digital Televisional Broadcasting etc.To make Prasar Bharati an organisation supported by latest technological developments in the world, the committee has suggested that it should create a separate division which should be looking after this area. The committee has also recommended the strengthening of its regional transmission.

Amitabh Parashar