Govt to set up hiring body for Prasar Bharati

The UPA government will soon set up a recruitment board for Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, which will make all future appointments in various entities under it, including Doordarshan.

A cabinet proposal for the recruitment board, recommended by an interministerial panel, or a group of ministers, is being moved by the information and broadcasting ministry.

Prasar Bharati is currently understaffed due to a freeze on hiring permanent employees, including critical positions at various levels.

This has prompted the broadcaster to hire consultants to perform key roles.

According to sources, after the recruitment board is set up, the recruitment would be done in accordance with the guidelines of the department and personnel training.

It could obviate the need to hire consultants.

The government has also released `12,500 crore for non-plan expenditure, which mainly goes in payment of salaries.

The recruitment board would be headed by an official of the rank of additional secretary and would have two more members of the joint secretary rank.

The move was finalised after discussions with the expenditure finance committee of the department of expenditure in the finance ministry and the department of personnel and training.

The move would facilitate recruitments to over 1,000 vacancies in Doordarshan and All-India Radio.