Autonomy will help in quick decision making: Prasar CEO

Pushing for autonomy of Prasar Bharati, its CEO Jawahar Sircar today said it would give the public broadcaster the freedom of "options" and the freedom to take decisions swiftly.
He talked of the practical operational problems under the present system where even engaging a radio jockey would take not less than three years.
His comments came in the backdrop of the Sam Pitroda committee report today recommending "effective" freedom to the public broadcaster with administrative and financial powers.
"Autonomy is a highly charged term. It gets emotional on either side...What autonomy means for us is freedom of options. It will give us he freedom to take a call and be responsible for it in the public domain," Sircar said.

Elaborating, he said autonomy will enable them have the freedom to choose technology, the choice of moulding human resources and the choice of deciding on a particular course of action and then be responsible for it.
He referred to shortwave services of the AIR and said it is a drain on the courpus as they are not being used but the process is elaborate and takes a lot of time to shut them down under the present system.

With autonomy, the organisation can take a fast decision on this issue.
Among the host of recommendations, the Pitroda panel committee has suggested giving powers to the organisation frame rules and regulations for its employees without seeking prior approval of the government.

"In general we have lot of people in Prasar Bharati, can we retain some of them...We may not need these many people. Today's technology requires people in 20s and not 30s".
The acceptance of the recommendations could come a boon for the organisation. Sircar said, the organisation, whose FM stations are widely appreciated, does not have a rule at present for radio jockey as the term does not exist at all.