(a) the details of Public Sector Undertakings functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed the performance of these PSUs;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI P. R. DASMUNSI)
(a) to (d) : There are two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, viz., Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The review of these PSUs is an ongoing and continuous exercise undertaken by the Government from time to time.
The performance of these PSUs comes under review both by the Ministry as well as the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the aegis of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. The terms of MoU are also finalised in consultation with the DPE. There has been a quantum leap in respect of the profit of BECIL from Rs. 8.60 lakh in 1995-96 to Rs. 201.25 lakh during the financial year 2004-05 and based on its performance, it has been assigned a provisional rating of ‘Very Good’ by the DPE. NFDC has become active with the amalgamation of Film Finance Corporation and Indian Motion Pictures Export Corporation with it in 1980. NFDC has also been getting good / fair ratings till 2004-2005.
However, as for the fiscal performance of NFDC is concerned, while it was a profit-making organization during the fiscal years 2000-01 and 2001-02, for the subsequent three consecutive financial years till 2004-05, it has been incurring losses. A number of steps have been taken to streamline its functioning and to curtail its losses which, inter alia, include down-sizing the strength of staff, introduction of Voluntary Retirement Scheme and extending financial assistance by the Government.