GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OFINFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO4069
ANSWERED ON03.05.2010
STATUS OF AIR DOORDARSHAN .
4069, SHRI PRAVEEN RASHTRAPAL
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to satate :-
- the status of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan vis-à-vis Prasar Bharati;
(b) how the service conditions of employees and officers working with AIR and Doordarshan and governed;
(c) whether Prasar Bharati had drafted new service rules and regulations for the employees and officers who are placed under their control on account of Government decision; and
(d) who is responsible for grievances of the employees working in the field either with AIR or Doordarshan all over the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
( SHRI C. M. J ATUA )
(a) Prasar Bharati was established as an autonomous corporation by an Act of Parliament and it was entrusted with the functions discharged by Akashwani and Doordarshan. Akashwani and Doordarshan are part and parcel of Prasar Bharati.
(b)& (c) All the Government servants working in Akashwani and Doordarshan were placed on terms of deemed deputation to the Corporation with effect from 1st April, 2000 without any deputation allowance till such a time as they are transferred to the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11. A GOM was constituted by the Government to consider various aspects of the working of Prasar Bharati including the service conditions of its employees. GOM has recommended that employees recruited upto 05.10.2007 shall continue to be Government servants on deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati till retirement and will enjoy all facilities at apr with Central Government employees and that the employees recruited after 05.10.2007 will be Prasar Bharati employees. The Ministry is in the process of implementing the decisions of the GOM by amending Section 11 of the Prasar Bharati Act. At present, they are governed by the Government rules and regulations.
(d) As per DoP&T guidelines, Grievance Redressal Mechanism has been put in place by Prasar Bharati at various levels viz at the stations/kendras level, at zonal levels, at the Directorates level and at the Prasar Bharati Secretariat level.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OFINFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO4065
ANSWERED ON03.05.2010
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AMENDMENT IN PRASAR BHARATI ACT .4065 / SHRI P. RAJEEVE
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTINGbe pleased to satate :-
(a) whether the Ministry has any plan to amend the Prasar Bharati Act; and
(b) the reasons for delay to constitute the Parliamentary Committee of Prasar Bharati, according to the mandatory provisions of the existing Act?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
( SHRI C. M. J ATUA )
(a) Yes, Sir. It is proposed to amend Section 11 of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers(GOM) dated 05.10.2007 and 26.9.2008.
(b) The issue whether a Parliamentary Committee is to be constituted as per Section 13 of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 or Section 13 of the Act is to be deleted has been referred to the GOM, which has been reconstituted on 10.2.2010 for taking a view.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OFINFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO3297
ANSWERED ON26.04.2010
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CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING OF PRASAR BHARATI .
3297
SHRI SANJAY RAUT
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTINGbe pleased to satate :-
(a) whether Government has received the recommendations on capital and financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati from any group of committee; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and Government’s response thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
(SHRI C. M. JATUA)
(a) and (b) : A Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, I & B on 30th March 2005 to examine and submit a report on the issue relating to the Capital and Financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati. The Committee submitted its report on 18.5.2006. In the meantime, a Group of Ministers (GOM) was constituted on 7th March 2006to study and make recommendations on various issues pertaining to the functioning of Prasar Bharati including the issue of capital and financial restructuring. The report of the Committee was considered by the GOM. GOM while laying down the broad outlines, recommended that the Ministry should formulate a proposal in consultation with Prasar Bharati incorporating the broad principles laid down by GOM and take up the matter with Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. GOM further recommended that the final proposal after consulting Department of Expenditure may be brought before it for further consideration and recommendations. After a number of discussions with the Department of Expenditure, no consensus could emerge and thus the matter could not be finalized during the tenure of the previous GOM.
The GOM was re-constituted on 10.02.2010 and in its first meeting held on 16.04.2010, GOM discussed the matter of Capital and Financial restructuring among other issues. The recommendations of GOM are awaited.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OFINFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 3286
ANSWERED ON26.04.2010
ROLLBACK OF PRASAR BHARATI TO PREVIOUS POSITION .
3286 / SHRI MOHAMMED ADEEB
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether there are demands fyaor rollback of Prasar Bharati to the pre-Prasar Bharti position because of various problems plaguing it;
(b) if so, the details in this regard; and
(c) the action being taken in the matter?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING ( SHRI C. M. J ATUA )
(a), (b) & (c) National Federation of Akashvani and Doordarshan Employees (NFADE) representing 21 service Associations of Prasar Bharai employees have demanded repeal of Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. The NFADE has stated that experience over the last 12 years have proved that Prasar Bharati is not only financially unviable and could not achieve the concept with which it was set up. They also launched an agitation to press for their demands. Demands of NFADE have inter alia been included as an Agenda item for consideration of the newly constituted Group of Ministers on Prasar Bharati.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 813
ANSWERED ON 02.03.2010
GRIEVANCES OF PRASAR BHARATI EMPLOYEES
813 .
Shri NITYANANDA PRADHAN
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:-
(a)whether the Government proposes to repeal the Prasar Bharati (PB)Act, 1990 in view of the requests received in this regard;
(b) the objections raised against the said Act;
(c) the details of grievances of the employees of Prasar Bharati; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to redress the grievances of the employees of Prasar Bharati in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M.JATUA)
(a) No Sir.
(b) & (c) – A Federation representing mainly the Engineering and Programme staff of Prasar Bharati have been demanding repeal of the Prasar Bharati Act in view of the developments in Electronic Media in the recent years, marked by the presence of a large number of private Television and Radio Channels and apprehension of financial unviability of Prasar Bharati. They have also demanded for retaining of assets and employees with the Government. ‘Deemed deputation’ status is not acceptable to them. Another Association representing mainly the administrative staff have demanded upgraded pay-scales on par with the Programme and the Engineering staff and are willing to be absorbed in Prasar Bharati if the upgraded scales are given to them.
(d) The Group of Ministers on Prasar Bharati has been reconstituted recently to examine various issue pertaining to Prasar Bharati.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
STARRED
QUESTION NO
166
ANSWERED ON
09.03.2010
PRASAR BHARATI
166 .
Shri NITYANANDA PRADHAN
Will the Minister of
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government had recently ordered a special audit of the Prasar Bharati;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor alongwith the outcome thereof;
(c) whether there exists a gap between the income and expenditure of Prasar Bharati;
(d) if so, the details in respect of the last three years and the current year; and
(e) the details of the steps taken by the Government to address various issues plaguing Prasar Bharati?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (Smt. AMBIKA SONI)
(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.166 FOR ANSWER ON 09.03.2010.
(a) & (b) Yes Sir, Special audit of Prasar Bharati was ordered on 25.05.2009 and is in progress. The scope of the special audit includes the following:
i. General accounting issues on expenditure incurred by Prasar Bharati from grants-in-aid given by Government of India since its inception, unspent balances not refunded to Government, internal and extra budgetary resources and reconciliation of receipts and bank statements.
ii. Specific issues of financial management brought out by Member (Finance), Prasar Bharati relating to issues such as acquisition of Radio Broadcast Rights for three cricket series, investment of surplus funds of Prasar Bharati in various banks, verification of imprest balances lying with field offices, Debtors profile, etc.
(c) & (d) Yes Sir, Prasar Bharati being a public service broadcaster is not principally guided by commercial motive in its functioning. The income earned by Prasar Bharati is known as Internal Extra Budgetary Resource (IEBR). The details of income, expenditure and gap for the last three years and the current year are as under:
(Rs. in crore)
FinancialIncomeExpenditureGap between Expenditure
Year & Income
2006-07983.051954.67971.62
2007-081035.862057.921022.06
2008-091096.782518.881422.10
2009-101119.003098.001979.00
For the year 2009-10 figures are provisional. The steep rise in expenditure during the year 2008-09 and 2009-10 is primarily due to the implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission’s recommendations.
The Government has provided financial assistance to Prasar Bharati by way of grant-in-aid and loan in the form of Direct Budgetary Support to meet the plan and non-plan expenditure. The assistance given for the last three years and the current year is as under:
(Rs. in crore)
FinancialDirect Budgetary Support
Year
Grant-in-aidLoanTotal
Non PlanPlan
2006-07878.18255.5040.021173.70
2007-08974.14119.13204.191297.46
2008-091137.1281.82232.111451.05
2009-101246.42198.48150.111595.01
For the year 2009-10 figures are provisional.
(e) To consider the financial restructuring and other critical issues plaguing Prasar Bharati a Group of Ministers (GOM) was constituted in March, 2006. The GOM has been reconstituted on 10th February, 2010 to examine various issues pertaining to the functioning of Prasar Bharati.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3992
ANSWERED ON 20.04.2010
PAUCITY OF STAFF IN PRASAR BHARATI
3992 .
Smt. SUSHILA SAROJ
RAJENDRA AGARWAL
Will the Minister of
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of employees appointed on deputation basis in Prasar Bharati (PB);
(b) whether there is paucity of personnel in the Prasar Bharati thereby affecting its efficiency; (
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) the remedial measure taken by the Government to overcome the shortage;
(e) whether there is any proposal for restructuring of Prasar Bharati; and
(f) if so, the time by which it is likely to be restructured?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING ( SHRI C.M.JATUA )
(a) Presently there are 30 officers/officials working on deputation in Prasar Bharati.
(b)Yes. However, the efficiency of is not much affected.
( c) to (f) A study on Organizational restructuring of Prasar Bharati has been undertaken by National Productivity Council (NPC). A Group of Minister (GOM) has been constituted to look into various issues relating to Prasar Bharati including issues of financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati and filling up of essential category of posts. Recommendations of (GOM) are awaited.
Restructuring can take place after the receipt and consideration of the NPC report and the recommendations of the GOM. As such no time frame can be given.