New DGs of Doordarshan, AIR take charge

Naveen Kumar begins new innings as DG, Doordarshan, while Brajeshwar Singh joins as DG, AIR. Shoring up revenues is the key task ahead of the two DGs.

by exchange4media Staff
Published: Feb 20, 2004 10:47 AM | 1 min read

Headless for long, Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) have finally got their respective director-generals. Naveen Kumar, a 1975 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, has taken charge of the post of Director-General of Doordarshan which had been lying vacant since September 2 last following the shifting of then DG S Y Quraishi to the Ministry of Steel.

Brajeshwar Singh, a 1975 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, took charge as Director-General of All India Radio on February 19, 2004. The top post had been lying vacant since February 2002 following the retirement of T R Malakar.

Though Prasar Bharati Board selected both Singh and Kumar over a month ago the Cabinet Committee on Appointment took time to clear the two appointments.

The two DGs have tasks cut out. Kumar faces the challenge of reviving the fortunes of DD News in view of its falling TRPs. He has also an immediate responsibility of launching Doordarshan’s DTH operations from April 2,2004.

Singh is saddled with the responsibility of launching a new 24-hour radio news channels from April 2, 2004 besides increasing the revenue of AIR.