Doordarshan episode

The Doordarshan saga seems unending. Now a Member of Parliament has complained against Jawhar Sircar, CEO Prasar Bharati, for treating the Standing Committee of Parliament on IT not only lightly, but with a preconceived aim to humiliate the august body by deputing someone who had no idea of media. In a strong worded letter to the I&B Minister, DK Suresh, MP, has blamed Sircar for sending Ms Inderjeet Kaur, an officer on deputation to the organisation and not conversant with media, thereby downgrading the importance of the Standing Committee. The letter alleges that the CEO demeaned the status of the parliamentary committee by sending an ignorant officer, who failed to answer queries put by MPs. The meeting was held at Port Blair from February 11-13, 2016. The MP wondered why the incompetent officer was imposed at the last minute when the entire arrangements were made for Dr Mahesh Joshi, Additional DG–South, and a known media professional. The letter blames Sircar by name and holds him responsible for taking an improper step. It is learnt that during the next meeting of the Standing Committee on IT, the CEO along with Ms Kaur and Dr Joshi would be asked to appear. Ministry sources also confirm that Sircar has failed to deliver and one often finds him embroiled in controversies. Ms Kaur, it should be recalled, was inducted fraudulently by this CEO for a term ending in 2018. The moment this matter became public, sources confirmed that a shaken Ms Kaur got herself relieved from Prasar Bharati and joined her parent cadre in a hurry. Why do most CEOs in Prasar Bharati get mauled in ignominy and shame? Is it really a jinxed assignment or do conceited bureaucrats fall flat after getting exposed to the realities of performance and accountability?