The Union Government’s decision to set up two specialised television channels, one for the North-East and another for farmers, is welcome. But the Modi regime must also fix problems at Doordarshan and All India Radio
In his maiden Budget, Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley announced the setting up of two exclusive television channels, one for the farmers and another for the North-East region. With an outlay of `100 crore, DD Kisan, the 24-hour channel TV channel, aims to provide real-time information on the agriculture sector to the farmers. The Finance Minister also declared that a new channel will be launched for the eight sister States of the North-East. Aptly named Arun Prabha, the channel would highlight the rich culture of the North-East.
While the plans to launch these new channels are indeed laudable, it is equally important that the Government pays adequate attention towards the revival and rejuvenation of Prasar Bharati and related institutions such as Doordarshan and AIR, to strengthen public service broadcasting in the country at a time when key developmental concerns are getting lost in the cacophony of the multitude of news channels which have mushroomed over the years.
The national broadcaster has been at the receiving end of successive Governments, notwithstanding the ‘autonomous’ status granted to it. It remains a fact that both DD and AIR were exploited to the hilt by the previous Governments to serve as a propaganda machinery for the ruling party and a parking lot for favourites. The gross political interference in the editorial content touched its nadir when a detailed interview of the prime ministerial candidate of the principal Opposition was mercilessly edited for no reason.
To cite a recent instance of the pathetic state of affairs, Doordarshan was left red-faced by its shoddy coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal, wherein it had to beam the visuals of a Nepali channel despite having sent teams. Insiders in DD point out that these are routine incidents in the organisation, which is the largest broadcasting entity in India in terms of studio and transmitter infrastructure, and whose reach far exceeds that of any other private channel, especially in the rural and far flung areas of the country. Unfortunately, its viewership is falling by the day despite occasional cosmetic attempts to revive the juggernaut.
Over the years, Doordarshan has been turned into a den of nepotism, favouritism, corruption, incompetence and unprofessionalism. Scores of people have been hired as consultants and advisers with high salaries, but have little work to do. Casual appointments involving corruption and favouritism has become the norm.
Objectivity in news coverage, so critical for a public broadcaster, has been thrown to the winds, with a policy of deliberately keeping out critics and ideological rivals and giving preference to lackeys and balladeers of the ruling dispensation not only in key appointments but also in panel discussions.
The Prasar Bharati Act lays down that the public broadcaster should pay special attention to fields of agriculture and rural development along with areas like education and the spread of literacy, environment, health and family welfare and science and technology. Yet, the mediocre programming and the absence of hardcore professionals to man the set-up find reflection in the lack of innovation in either the content or the presentation.
What is required is a major overhaul. The organisation needs to shed its flab and become pro active. Contrary to popular suggestions, DD should not fall into the trap of competing with private channels. It has to retain its primary character as a public service broadcaster. Its job is not to sensationalise news or conduct loud discussions. It is in the business of information, communication and education. DD has to emerge as the key messenger to the masses at large about their rights and duties. It has to inform them about the various schemes, plans and facilities that the local, state and Union Governments have devised for their benefit.
To begin with, the new Information and Broadcasting Minister should reconstitute and rejuvenate the Prasar Bharati Board and make it more powerful and effective, if necessary through legislative amendments. The Chairman and members of the Board should not be a ceremonial group but an effective team of qualified and experienced senior professionals, who are assigned the task of reviving the monolith.
DD should hire hardcore television professionals to run the show while IIS officers should be made responsible for the administrative part. The organisation should undertake a dispassionate review of the existing pool of manpower, their utility and relevance and then conduct a fresh recruitment drive for the best talent available in the market.
It should mercilessly weed out non-productive resources as they not only do not perform but only serve to vitiate the work atmosphere further.
(The author is Senior Fellow & Editor with the Vivekananda International Foundation)