Lok Sabha Question No. 2223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Review of Prasar Bharti
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, RITI PATHAK, B. SREERAMULU

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2223 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2015)

## REVIEW OF PRASAR BHARTI

## 2223.     SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA: SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA: SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has reviewed the functioning of the Prasar Bharti (PB), if so, the outcome thereof along with the deficiencies identified in its working;
- (b)  whether  the  issues  concerning  service  conditions  of  the  employees  of  the  PB  have  been sorted out, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  a  large  number  of  posts  are  lying  vacant  in  PB,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the corrective  measures taken by the Government to fill the vacant posts along with the steps taken  to  include  professionals  in  PB  with  allowing  to  recruit  own  officers  instead  of deputation from other services;
- (d) whether the production capacity of PB is not fully utilised, if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the further steps taken/being taken by the Government to revitalise PB and grant full financial and administrative autonomy including recruitment of staff?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF  INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]:

(a): Review of functioning of Prasar Bharati is a continuous process which is carried out from time  to  time.  After  review,  suitable  suggestions  are  made  to  Prasar  Bharati  as  per  consensus arrived at.

(b):  With  the  enforcement  of  the  Prasar  Bharati  (Amendment)  Act,  2011  with  effect  from 08.03.2012,  all  officers  and  employees,  borne  on  the  cadres  of  All  India  Radio  (AIR)  and Doordarshan  (DD),  who  were  recruited  upto  05.10.2007,  are  to  be  treated  as  on  deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati till their retirement. The employees recruited after 05.10.2007 shall be Prasar Bharati employees.

(c)  &  (d):  Though  there  are  vacancies  in  Prasar  Bharati  which  also  affect  their  production capacity, there is a need to reassess actual requirement of staff in Prasar Bharati keeping in view changes  in  broadcast  technologies.  Prasar  Bharati  has  been  advised  to  carry  out  a  Manpower Audit  to  identify  posts  actually  needed  to  be  filled  up.  However,  efforts  are  made  by  Prasar Bharati to utilise the capacity to the optimum level by re-deployment of staff on transfer/tour.

(e): Prasar Bharati was established as an autonomous corporation on 23.11.1997 under the Prasar Bharati  (Broadcasting  Corporation  of  India)  Act,  1990.  The  Act  provides  full  functional autonomy to Prasar Bharati. The general superintendence, direction and management of Prasar Bharati is vested in the Prasar Bharati Board which exercises all powers and does all acts and things on behalf of the Corporation, as enshrined in the Act.

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