The government told the Parliament on Wednesday that it’s working on a comprehensive legislation for public broadcaster Prasar Bharati which among other things will be aiming to improve its functioning and make it more professional.
This was stated by both Union minister for information and broadcasting, Ambika Soni, as well as minister of state in her ministry, Choudhary Mohan Jatua, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (20-12-2011).

         The two were speaking shortly after the House had concluded a discussion on the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, 2010, which was later passed by through a voice vote in the Lok Sabha. The bill had earlier been passed by the Rajya Sabha.

          Ms Ambika Soni told the the Parliament that the amendment will help regularise a large section of Prasar Bharati employees and provide them with the status of being on deemed deputation until their retirement. As per the amendment, those recruited by Prasar Bharati between November 1997 and October 2007 will be considered as being on “deemed deputation” till retirement. The Union minister also told the House: “There is no magic wand to provide instant remedies for various problems. But the intention should be clear.”

         The minister’s observation came after members had spoken pointing out various problems that Prasar Bharati is presently beset with. Mr Jatua told the house that the Bill before them for amendment was “one step forward towards making Prasar Bharati a self-sufficient and autonomous body”.

         Noting that the Prasar Bharati Board had taken 14 years to to just prepare the draft for its recruitment proposals, the minister of state said that at present the draft is going through inter-ministerial consultations and it was hoped that Prasar Bharati would eventually conduct its own recruitments.

|||||| Thank you for your interest.||||||