Or, how Rs 430 crore earmarked for Commonwealth Games coverage has spawned an unholy nexus
Prasar Bharati’s affairs had been on the simmer for long. Now, they have been brought to the boil by none other than the Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting, Anand Sharma, who convened an urgent meeting on February 20.
The previous two Prasar Bharati board meetings saw CEO BS Lalli being lambasted for financial irregularities, non-utilization of funds, devising wrong policies, and rampant staff unrest. The board was critical of the fact that in-house talent and facilities were deliberately not properly utilized. Instead, the professionals working in AIR and Doordarshan were made out to be inefficient and corrupt.
Lalli had issued press advertisements seeking expression of interest for coverage of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, to which some companies had responded. The Doordarshan and AIR staff associations were incensed, asking why outsiders were being invited when the entire expertise lay with in-house professionals. It was pointed out that Doordarshan pioneered sports coverage with the 1982 Asian Games, the 1987 Reliance Cricket Cup, the Afro-Asian Games, Davis Cup and ATP matches, the Millennium Soccer Cup, international hockey and cricket matches. They have threatened to launch an agitation if the Commonwealth Games coverage is handed over to outsiders.
At the last meeting, the board had criticized the CEO’s decision to invite outsiders and appointed a committee comprising Member-Personnel and Member-Finance to find out the infrastructural strength of Doordarshan and AIR. It stalled all sports-related exercises aimed at the Commonwealth Games.
At the heart of the matter is the Commonwealth Games outlay of Rs 430 crore for Prasar Bharati. So Lalli immediately turned to Suresh Kalmadi, President of the Games Committee. He reportedly did this through BM Bakshi, the controversial Director of the Delhi Centre, who was earlier transferred out by Priyaranjan Das Munsi for his questionable conduct in sports matters and RSS links. And Kalmadi apparently succeeded in influencing the Minister.
At the February 20 meeting…the Minister stated that the board should allow the CEO to function freely. He has perhaps forgotten that, under the Act of Parliament, Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body
At the February 20 meeting, attended also by Arun Bhatnagar, Chairman, Prasar Bharati Board, and Uday Verma, Additional Secretary, I&B Ministry, the Minister stated that the board should allow the CEO to function freely. He has perhaps forgotten that, under the Act of Parliament which created it, Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body with an appointed board to oversee its affairs.
Rather than interfering in this manner, the Minister would have done well to look into the CEO’s performance. The latter has been involved in a series of controversies, including matters mentioned by the Central Vigilance Commissioner and Delhi High Court. There has been no internal auditing despite repeated notings by Member-Finance. There is loss of cash income. Grants given for content generation have been made out to be “income”. Prasar Bharati is also not providing debtor statements and debt levels have gone up alarmingly.
These are the issues the board was concerned about – to the extent of being apprehensive that “a Satyam Computers-like situation has been created and there is too much of bungling”. One board member even said they might be questioned by the CBI or CVC – all because of the CEO.
The Delhi Commission for Women has told Lalli to appear before it on March 26 in a sexual harassment case involving an established film producer vide complaint no. 9014969/Smt Roshni Devi dated February 9, 2009. The complaint was made by Anjalee Arora on January 15, accusing Lalli of making advances in return for approving her serial.
Despite the seriousness of the situation – there have been numerous questions in Parliament on various issues regarding Lalli – the Minister reportedly said the Board should be dissolved for “desired” functioning.
Editor, gfiles
