A Group of Ministers (GoM) had been constituted to look into various issues pertaining to the functioning of the Prasar Bharati, Minister of State in the I&B Ministry C M Jatua in reply to a query in Lok Sabha.
"The GoM had examined some of the important financial, administrative, manpower and employee related issues of PB (Prasar Bharati) and made a number of recommendations," he said.
Jatua said the recommendations included suggestion that the government should extend financial assistance to Prasar Bharati from Non-Plan funds to meet 100 percent expenses towards salary, salary-related expenses and augmentation of capitals assets in next five years.
Other recommendations included exempting Prasar Bharati from paying Income Tax, waiving interest on past loans to it and converting loans in to grants-in-aid.
Jatua said the recommendations would enable Prasar Bharati to become a financially viable and sustainable organisation.
"The Ministry has prepared a Cabinet note for implementing various recommendations of the GoM with regard to financial restructuring and filling up of essential category posts and the same is under inter-ministerial consultation," Jatua said.
In response to another question, Jatua said that as on date the I&B ministry had given permission for 833 TV channels to operate. PTI ADS
