MUMBAI: The North-East Film & TV Producers and Directors Forum, rejecting Prasar Bharati's final list, has demanded a time-bound and impartial enquiry into commissioned programmes selection process. It has allegined discrepancies in the selection of proposals for commissioned programmes and violation of norms for the north-east Doordarshan channels.

Aspirants from across India had submitted a total of 1,104 proposals against the notification dated 28 December 2016 issued by the Prasar Bharati, and each one of them paid a non-refundable fee of Rs 25,000, thereby generating Rs 27.6 million revenue for Doordarshan.

Forum general secretary Neeraj Deka alleged that only 10 per cent of the submitted proposals were considered for the final selection, and if that were to be the case, why did Prasar Bharati not clearly mention it in the notification, the Assam Tribune reported. Deka added that such selection process indicated that the authorities concerned were interested in collecting revenue from private producers than making judicious distribution of assignments among the producers of the region.

Deka alleged most of the committees were headed by some performing artiste, ordinary actor or an official who had negligible experience in art and culture, whereas most of the renowned and experienced producers had submitted their proposals after worthwhile research. The persons in the evaluation committee, Deka alleged, were incapable of judging the concept.

As per the Guidelines for Commissioned Programmes for Telecast on North-East DD Channels-2016, the joint secretary, ministry of DoNER was supposed to be a part of the evaluation process, but he was never a part of the process.

Forum president Sunil Rajkowar alleged that the stated facts showed that the evaluation of proposals was flawed and Prasar Bharati and Doordarshan violated the guidelines and acted arbitrarily in preparing the final list of producers.

In the scheme, there was reservation of 50 per cent from north-east-based producers, but some producers had applied for the commissioned programme from two different addresses – one from the north-east and another from New Delhi, Rajkowar alleged. He said that proved how undue advantage had been given to some of ‘selected’ producers by Prasar Bharati.

Deka alleged that Prasar Bharati authorities in New Delhi did not bother to respond to the issues  that had been taken up with them on several occasions.

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