New Delhi: Prasar Bharati must generate more revenues, monetise its assets and “stand on its own feet” on way to achieving full autonomy and financial independence, says its new chairperson, A Surya Prakash.
Looking at the Prasar Bharati Act, it is clear that the will of the Parliament is that the Corporation should function as a genuinely autonomous body – innovative, dynamic and flexible and that is what he intends to pursue.
“If you ask me – are we there? We are still not there. There are two reasons, the bulk of our employees are central government employees. You are still to have the Prasar Bharati Recruitment Board (PBRB) in place…So bulk of our employees are central government employees and fifty percent of our budget comes from the Union government,” he told PTI.
Prakash said that budgetary support this year is approximately 50 per cent of the budget of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India).
“I am of the view that as we go along, this Corporation must generate more revenues, monetise its assets and one fine day stand on its own feet….I will say, that, if you want to get to full autonomy, you must become financially independent. It is very important,” he said.
Prakash said that in Prasar Bharati there are employees who have not got promotions for 20 years which is an issue that needs to be addressed.
“In the road to autonomy, we are somewhere on that road. This Act mandates us to be always on that road, so that at some point of time we really get there. It is irrespective of who is running the Union government,” he said.
When asked how the present system affects autonomy of the Prasar Bharati, Prakash said, “How it affects, I cannot say, I have just come in. But these are issues we must address. Prasar Bharati must have its own employees, that’ll make a difference and that day must come. And Prasar Bharati must have enough resources to manage on its own.”
Speaking further Prakash also reacted to certain news reports which had described him as “right-wing”.
“If I was left-wing, would you have said left-wing journalist to head Prasar Bharati. Why don’t you say that? I am not left-wing but that does not mean I am right-wing. And is it unconstitutional to be right-wing in the world’s largest democracy,” he asked.
“You can put any label on me, but you are ignoring my 30 years of work in the area of Parliament and democracy studies,” he added.
