Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar fails to clear over Rs 25 crore liability to Kashmir artists

SRINAGAR — The Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar has failed to release the payments for the work done by private producers, production houses and individuals.

Liabilities to the tune of over Rs 25 crore are pending, much to the suffering of the artist fraternity in Kashmir. This has been revealed by DD Srinagar in response to an application filed by RTI activist MM Shuja.

As per the available records, the total old liability to date is reported to be Rs 25,43,13,530. There has been reportedly no communication to Prasar Bharti for releasing funds to meet the liability.

The matter of the old liability is under the purview of Directorate Door Darshan Kendra Srinagar. Due to a lack of funds, for the last four years, Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar has also stopped airing eight programs. The programs that have been stopped include, ‘Butrat’, ‘Baat Say Baat Nikli’, ‘Rozgar Bulletin’, ‘Shugufe, Bamun’, ‘Hum Qadam’, ‘Suni Dharti’, ‘Quiz Program’, and ‘Balti Program.’

Renowned artist Zameer Ashai told the news agency KNT that everyone is in trouble as no payments have been made to producers for the last nine years. “I personally met CEO Prasar Bharti in New Delhi and apprised him about the prevailing situation. Even the artist fraternity talked to him in detail when he visited Srinagar. The liability is still there,” he said, adding that even new work has been stopped now.

Another artist, on condition of anonymity, said that they are baffled by the way things are present now. “Don’t know what’s happening in New Delhi. I must say the ‘Golden Era’ of Doordarshan Srinagar is already over,” he said.