GOVERNMENT DENIES FINANCIAL CRISIS
IN AIR
The Government have
denied that the All India Radio (AIR) is in financial crisis.
Answering a question by Dr. (Smt.) Sudha Yadav in Lok Sabha today,
the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar
Prasad said that the Government have allotted the sanctioned budget
grant of Rs. 515.64 crores during the financial year of 2002-03
to Prasar Bharati.
The Minister said
the annual grant stood at Rs. 691.28 crores in 1999-2000, Rs.
525.55 crores in 2000-201 and Rs. 527.81 crores during 2001-2002
for smooth functioning of AIR.
In another question
by Shri T. M. Selvaganapathi, Shri Prasad said the Government
have decided to de-link Central Monitoring Services (CMS) from
Prasar Bharati with effect from April 1st, 2003. The
CMS will now function directly under the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting.
The Minister said
the change has been effected because of the need to monitor foreign
radio and TV broadcasters and then make available relevant information
to various Ministries/Departments/Agencies of the Government of
India.
Replying yet another
question by Shri R. V. Rao, Shri Prasad said that without diluting
its mandate as a public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati is
taking steps to match the competition.
Shri Prasaid said
for this purpose, the Prasar Bharati has revised guidelines for
sponsorship of programmes/serials on its channels. A Creative
Advisory Committee, constituted in 2002, which consists of eminent
media experts from various fields of art, culture and journalism,
regularly reviews creative content of the national channel and
of the news, he said.
Action has been taken
for improving the style of presentation and of promotion of programmes.
Effective steps have been taken to improve the quality of transmission.
It is Prasar Bharati’s endeavour to improve the quality of its
programmes and it is a continuous process, Shri Prasad said.
