(a) whether several committees, including Sam Pitroda Panel have recommended structural reforms in the Public Broadcasting and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether a panel of Secretaries has also suggested the Government to make public broadcasters, Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR), corporate entities so as to reduce their dependence on Government funds and give them elbow room to take decisions; and
(c) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
[SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU]
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 86 FOR ANSWER ON 08.2.2017.
(a): In the recent past, the Government had set up an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Sam Pitroda on 28.01.2013, to review the functioning of Prasar Bharati. The Committee had submitted its Report on 24.1.2014 and recommended framing a long-term vision and strategy for Prasar Bharati that would include and be dependent upon the technology choices, assessment of human resources, review of programming, including review of existing channels and also a study of independent sources of finances for Prasar Bharati. Details of recommendations of the Expert Committee may be seen in its Report which is available on the website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the following address: www.mib.nic.in>>Documents>>Broadcasting-Documents>>Report of Expert Committee on Prasar Bharati Vol 1 and Report of Expert Committee on Prasar Bharati Vol 2.
(b): A Group of Secretaries has been considering, apart from issues relating to other Ministries, the issues concerning the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also but no Report of the Group has been received by this Ministry.
(c): In view of (b) above, the question does not arise.
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