Demonetisation causing hardships

Tirupati: Prasar Bharati chairman Dr A Surya Prakash Rao said that the withdrawal of high denomination notes had resulted in problems to the people and hoped that it would end soon as assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a freewheeling chat with the media person here on Monday, Surya Prakash observed that despite the severe cash crunch pinching them people were bearing it which was quite evident with the discipline and restraint they were showing at the long queues at ATMs and banks solely due to the faith they had reposed in Modi.

He disagreed with the view that the parties in power often manage the media to suppress dissenting voices against democratic spirit and said that in the present scenario, it is impossible to do so.

“There are thousands of media organizations including Satellite TV channels and national newspapers nationwide. How is it possible for a ruling party to manage all of them and make them toe its line?” he questioned.

Further, with lakhs of smart phone in vogue, every citizen is now an editor, printer and publisher, able to disseminate his views or comments on any issue or anything they come across in various means and forms like social media and blogs.

Against the changed back drop, managing media is unthinkable, as media too may not take the risk of being
exposed before the public, he averred.

In this connection, he expressed concern against abusive messages and said that concerned officials should see to it that those in social media do not resort to comments that are abusive.

Replying to a question on the failure of the media houses in implementing the wage board recommendations with regard to salary hike to journalists, he said that since the job of the media persons was more taxing and stressful, it is desirable that the managements should execute the recommendations for the benefit of journalists.