Prasar Bharati Act To Come Into Force On September 15

The long-awaited Prasar Bharati Act, promising autonomy to Doordarshan and All India Radio lying in cold storage for seven years, will come into force on September 15, information and broadcasting minister S Jaipal Reddy announced here yesterday.

A notification to this effect was issued yesterday by the information and broadcasting ministry under Section 1(3) of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990.

Terming the decision as historic, Reddy said the notification would release the Prasar Bharati Act from bondage after languishing in the statute book for seven long years.

Addressing the 56th national conference of the Indian Languages Newspapers Association here, the minister also announced that DAVP advertisement rates would be increased keeping in view the enhanced cost of newspaper production.

 

The government, he said, proposed to evolve a formula to link DAVP rates agreed parameters and indicators for automatic revision.

Reddy said six weeks for implementation of Act were required for preparatory work for appointment of chairman and other members of the Prasar Bharati Board by a three-member selection committee.

The Vice-President and the chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI) are ex-officio members while the third member will be nominated by the President.

The minister categorically stated that Doordarshan and All India Radio will not be under the control of the government at all.

He said the government was open to suggestions for amending the Act, but was not prepared to postpone its implementation indefinitely awaiting suitable amendments.

Reddy said he had received the full support of the Prime Minister in going ahead with this move. I couldnt have moved an inch without his benedictions, the minister observed.

Reddy said the proposed Broadcasting Corporation of India would have credibility and comparable to leading international public broadcast services.

He observed that both Doordarshan and All India Radio were being perceived to be the tools in the hands of the government, ruling party and ruling clique and vulnerable to ministers, even ministers PAs.

With the Act coming into force, Doordarshan and the All India Radio would be freed from the ministry. On the DAVP issue, he said this year it had been given Rs 9 crore to clear arrears. DAVP dues to a number of publications had been cleared sizeably, he said.

Reddy said he had asked DAVP and Press Information Bureau to give more weightage to language newspapers for their advertisements.