Prasar Bharti to be overhauled soon

New Delhi: A number of measures like improved content, setting up of a recruitment board, and filling up of vacant posts have been announced to invigorate Prasar Bharti - the country`s public broadcaster. Of the 3,452 posts which were identified as critical for operations in June, 2009, 1,150 have been filled and a proposal to fill the remaining is under active consideration, a statement issued by Prasar Bharti said Thursday. Approval has also been accorded to fill 3,023 posts in various categories like production assistant, cameraman, technician and head clerks, among others.

"This is the first major recruitment in Prasar Bharati in 15 years," the statement said. To improve the look, feel and content to attract more listeners and viewers, "distinguished professionals have been engaged", it added. "The ministry of information and broadcasting has set up an expert committee (headed by Sam Pitroda, advisor to the prime minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations) which will suggest the restructuring of Prasar Bharati," the broadcaster said. Casual artists, assignees and workers with temporary status will also benefit through a provision of relaxation of age to the extent of approved service rendered in the relevant post. A standard operating procedure has been developed to bring transparency in the process of regulating appointments on compassionate ground to a dependent family member of a dead employee, it said. Financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati includes measures such as exemption from income tax, waiver of interest on loan, waiver of accumulated arrears of space segments and spectrum charges, etc. "These incentives would benefit Prasar Bharati up to the tune of Rs.12,071 crore during the current fiscal," the statement said. PTI