Rs 1,133 cr financial autonomy package for Prasar Bharati

The long-pending financial autonomy package for Prasar Bharati has finally come through with the government earmarking Rs 1,133 crore in Budget 2000-01. With this, Prasar Bharati will be funded as a full-fledged autonomous body with effect from April 1, 2000.

Rs 1,133 cr financial autonomy package for Prasar Bharati 

The amount would be made available to Prasar Bharati through a grant-in-aid(Rs 963 crore) and a loan of Rs 170 crore. However, the government is yet to chalk out the repayment schedule for the loan, said a senior official of the I&B; ministry.

The note on demand for grants for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Ministry said that the grant-in-aid is being provided to cover the gap in resources of Prasar Bharati in meeting its revenue expenditure. "The loan is being provided to finance its capital expenditure," the note added.

Pending for the last two years, the present package of Rs 1,133.30 crore marks a slight increase from the 1999-2000 budgetary allocation of Rs1,018.77 crore. In 1999-2000, government support to Akashwani was to the tune of Rs 533.27 crore, as against Rs 485.5 crore for Doordarshan.

"The move will promote efficiency in Prasar Bharati by giving it flexibility to manage its finances," the official said. This will also improve the competitive position of the corporation vis-a-vis private channels, the official added.

The government has already appointed a three-member committee, headed byInfosys chairman NR Narayannamurthy, to suggest changes into itsorganisational structure. The other members of the committee are marketingexpert Shunu Sen and Discovery Channel managing director Kiran Karnik. Thecommittee report is expected to be submitted by April-end. A search isalready on for a full time chief executive officer for Prasar Bharati. Atpresent, additional secretary in I&B; ministry RR Shah is the acting-CEO ofPrasar Bharati.