CAG like autonomy for Prasar Bharati ,however remaining a platform for the govt: Manish Tiwari

Source: mediamughals.com | MM Network

April 08, 2013

When the autonomy of the autonomy of the public broadcaster has been largely talked about the Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tiwari highlighted that the public broadcaster be made independent on the lines of the Comptroller and Auditor General has it with the Finance Ministry.However, he said but inspite of the autonomy, the government should be allowed a platform where it could propagate its policies.

Replying sharply to stinging criticism by PB Board chairperson Mrinal Pande, surrounding the public broadcaster , the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari said on Friday that if the government was footing the bills of Prasar Bharati (PB), it could not be expected to keep an "arm's length" from the public broadcaster.

Mr. Tewari said the key issue was whether India needed a public broadcaster, and its relationship with the government. "Two-thirds of I&B Ministry's budget — Rs.1,885 crore of the Rs.2,800 crore — goes to Prasar Bharati. I am the recruiting authority, the disciplinary authority, the sanctioning authority. Yet, I am supposed to keep an arm's length. I am not God."

"If the country needs a public broadcaster let it be answerable directly to Parliament as it is mandated in the Prasar Bharati Act, but the government should be given the liberty to have a full spectrum communication agency which could take its point of view in the public space," he added.

Link: http://www.mediamughals.com/News/1/1/Article/11858/CAG_like_autonomy_for_Prasar_Bharati__however_remaining_a_platform_for_the_govt:_Manish_Tiwar.htm