Prasar Bharati produces more tainted officers than quality programmes

Source: State Times, STATE TIMES NEWS

Date: 24^th September, 2012

SRINAGAR: Entrusted with a task of winning over hearts and minds of people besides countering vicious Pakistani propaganda, the electronic media in Jammu and Kashmir, which thrived on special Government of India funding during the past over two decades of militancy in the State , has interestingly produced a long list of tainted officers than quality programmes!

The recent inclusion of outgoing Director Doordarshan Srinagar, Shami Shair into this list has raised many eyebrows given the fact that some elements in New Delhi were already aware that funds were being misused in Jammu and Kashmir by Doordarshan and All India Radio Staff all these years with impunity. Despite that, such a class of staff, was allowed to make hay, informed sources told STATE TIMES.
It was only three months ago when Prasar Bharati's recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Jawhar Sircar himself found, during his visit to the State, that electronic media had become a hub of corruption in the militancy infested State.

By the time Sircar understood this hard reality which was ironically brushed under carpet by his predecessors, the list of tainted officers had already swelled.

The sources said the situation has now taken to such an alarming proposition that most of the Doordarshan and All India Radio Stations in Jammu and Kashmir are presently without Directors and are headed by Engineers who besides lacking programme sense, terribly fall short of administrative and public relations skills, so much so that an Engineering Assistant at Radio Kashmir Srinagar was presently calling shots and treating himself " not less than Director General of AIR" and threatening staff with his " high connections" in Akashwani Bhawan.

Ironically, on the other side, a number of Director level officials stand attached or suspended for their involvement in minting Government of India money, which was treated as a booty by one and all from Mandi House Delhi to twin complex of Doordarshan and Radio near Jhelum via Tali Morh Nallah, which houses Doordarshan Jammu complex.

While giving a long list of tainted officials, the sources recalled that Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar's former Director, Dr Rafiq Masoodi was suspended two months ago for his involvement in a mega scandal for which Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) has taken up investigation only last week. Masoodi was earlier also suspected for highlighting cause of a particular political party and shifted to Delhi but his political connections first made him Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and then Doordarshan Director Srinagar only to embarrass Prasar Bharati Secretariat.
Interestingly, when Masoodi was replaced by Shami Shair, everyone in New Delhi knew her involvement in programme production scandal but she was allowed to head the sensitive station for unknown reasons, the sources said. They recalled that only last year Shair was transferred to Doordarshan Dehradun but she cared two hoots for the order.

The sources said the present Director of Doordarshan Srinagar, Qayoom Wadera, who was transferred to Leh only last year following his alleged involvement in corrupt practices, has again been posted head of the prestigious Station where he had tainted himself along with about a six producers and assistants.
Before Masoodi-Wadera-Shami trio, Doordarshan Srinagar's former Directors Siraj Qureshi and Shehzaadi Simon met the same fate. Simon was shifted to Radio Kashmir Jammu 15 days prior to her retirement but reportedly her pension remains still unsettled, the sources said.

Radio Kashmir Srinagar's former Director, Bashir Arif, who though not involved in corrupt practices, however, was transferred and attached with Directorate AIR New Delhi for the reason that he had tried to curb corrupt elements involving " Sheherbeen Programme" which had annoyed some staffers and it proved costly for him.

While further giving a list of tainted officers, the sources recalled that Doordarshan Srinagar's Senior Administrative Officer, A.S. Beg was suspended some days before his retirement last year following his involvement in a multi-crore scandal involving tapes and programme content. Similarly, Radio Kashmir Srinagar's former Administrative Officer, Hajra Khan figures in the list of tainted officers along with 23 other AIR Officials whose involvement in withdrawing travel claims illegally, was established by none other than CBI some months ago.

Even as Hajra Khan has been awarded major penalty as recommended by CBI, she continues to function as DDO at Radio Kashmir Jammu as some elements were trying to shield her while ignoring CBI recommendations, the sources said.

They also referred to involvement of former Director Doordarshan Jammu, M K Raina Ratnakar, who was ultimately attached with Mandi House. Similarly, a Production Assistant, M L Kharoo was booked by CBI in a corruption case.

The sources also referred to involvement of some other Jammu-based programme officials of Doordarshan Kendra Jammu and also some engineering officials against whom a number of complaints stand already piled up in Directorate, ranging from disproportionate assets to misuse of official position. Ironically, for some vested interests, the action was either being delayed or not taken at all against such elements who have brought disgrace to the organisation, the sources said.

They made a special mention of some clerical staff having worked on focal seats besides a lower-rung engineer who had a long stint of seven years at Kargil and was again willingly proceeding to the same area for ulterior motives after having managed to modify his transfer orders recently, the sources said.
'No serious effort is being made to investigate entire media units of Jammu and Kashmir to unearth the involvement of all those whosoever had duped Government exchequer by swindling funds under Office Expenses, PPS, METP, Minor works, J&K Special Package heads and also while installing transmitter towers at places which instead of boosting signals, stand up in shadow zones', said the source.

 

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