NEW DELHI, Dec 16: The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) board is considering the imposition of licence fee on radio and TV sets. In addition, also on the drawing board are plans to allow universities and other non-profitable organisations to become the corporation's franchisees.

Board chairman Nikhil Chakravarty said that since the board in a way has decided to accept the Pay Commission recommendations on the pay-scale of Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) staff members, the corporation would soon require to tap alternate sources to reduce its reliance on the government treasury.

Chakravarty further said the corporation has decided to continue with the new pay-scale till it is revised by the government.

Commenting on the dependence of DD and AIR on commercial revenue Chakravarty said it is not possible to reduce advertisement on DD or AIR all of a sudden. "However, suggestions are in front of the board to disallow vulgar advertisement", he added.

Significantly, the board's chief executive officer, S S Gill has already issued notices banning facial cream advertisement on DD.

The board members believe that DD's and AIR's reliance on either government funding and commercial revenue should be reduced for the corporation to retain its autonomy as well as its public broadcaster status.

In its last meeting the board members discussed the pros and cons of reintroducing licensing of TV and radio sets. The board discussed the options of issuing of one-time licences to viewers' at the time of purchasing TV or radio sets as well as reintroducing annual licence fee.

The annual licencing of TV and radio sets was prevalent in the country till mid-80s. The system was however scrapped due to low realisation of dues. The corporation however continues to receive grants-in-aid from the union information and broadcasting ministry.

The I&B ministry's total expenditure on DD and AIR for the current financial year is expected to cross the Rs 8,000 crore mark.

The corporation has also received Parliament's approval for receiving a grant of Rs 300 crore in the current fiscal.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.