Bonn:
Prasar Bharati favours more financial and administrative autonomy for the pubic broadcaster which is "neither anti-, nor pro-government".
"Yes, of course," Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar told PTI when asked whether he wanted more freedom to work.
"Government knows about it. Government is very aware. Whatever I have said it is there in public discourse. I will not like to rake it up here. That is not the place. My stand or our stand on autonomy, professional autonomy, the autonomy to operate, has been made clear," he said.
Mr Sircar, who gave his views on 'the future of journalism and the role of international broadcasters' during a session of media summit yesterday, held "typical bureaucratic mentality" responsible for people's perception of Prasar Bharati being a government controlled body.
"That (perception) is because all the members of Prasar Bharati, they are all government servants. So they carry their mentality with them. I was also a government servant I told
them that I took an oath to remain at arm's length (with the government) and if I have paid price for it why don't you guys come forward," he said without giving further details.
Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body constituted under an Act of the Parliament.
"There is a spirit in Prasar Bharati. It is not anti-government or anything. It's not like that. It is not pro-government or anti-government. It is a question of taking up the facts as they come," he said.
"As I said a rape has to be reported. But we report not the rape and sensational part, we report the retribution part, the punishment part. That is the important part," he said.
Mr Sircar said it is for the nation to make up its mind for bringing in changes to 'doordarshan'-video service run by Prasar Bharati.
"We raised the issue (in the conference) of India's public broadcaster not being international class. Our problem and our identity and our task was completely different. It was holding India together. A very typical country with 24 languages and 600 dialects."
"Our task was to hold the India together through 'Vividh Bharati' (a radio service) through a common discourse, through a common shred experience. We have done that. It is now time
for India to move outwards," he said.
During the conference, the CEO lauded the role of social media in bringing about the changes in people's thinking.
"Social media played a major role in that (crowd sourcing in general elections) aspect. That crowd source views or open views what was later turned out to be one of those instruments
that brought majority of people (out to cast their votes in recently concluded general elections)," Mr Sircar added.
Scores of participants including journalists from many countries are participating in Deutshe Welle Global Media Forum.