As I&B secretary, S.S. Gill has overseen some of DD's finest programmes: Nukkad, Buniyaad, Tamas and Hum Log. Now, he says he wants to restore good, clean entertainment. Last week he spoke to Special Correspondent Namita Bhandare about some of his ideas. Excerpts:

Q. There is a perception that the Prasar Bharati board has been pushed through in great haste and that it should have had younger members.

A. There was no threat to the Gujral Government when the three-member selection committee was set up. Once the committee was formed things were beyond the Government's control. And can you really raise a finger against any one of the members? Yesterday we met for the first time and the energy that this board exuded was amazing. Don't go by the age of the members, go by their mindset. This is not a laid-back but an activist board.

Q. The other allegation is that the board has a leftist bias which could affect its functioning.

A. Why is this an allegation? I am an unrepentant Marxist. But in 34 years with the government I have never allowed my personal prejudices to intrude. The point is not whether we are leftist or rightist but whether we are right.

Q. What are your priorities?

A. First to establish complete credibility. Then, to establish social programming to highlight women's rights, mass literacy, decentralisation. Earning money is very welcome, but programmes won't be designed to do this.

Q. You have made some pretty scathing remarks about the quality of programmes on DD.

A. DD has gone completely off the rails with too much emphasis on earning commercial revenue and we have ceased to perform our essential public mandate. Instead of following the others, DD should have set standards of excellence. This we didn't do.

Now, I want to restore a sense of balance and provide first-rate, clean entertainment. No violence and crime. There will be no lechery. No programmes that show women being ill-treated. I intend to reduce the number of films. I was horrified to discover that we are showing horoscopes on the national network. We need to upgrade audience tastes. Serials which are substandard will be terminated, regardless of the contract.

Q. Who's to decide what is a good programme and what isn't?

A. If I have been given the responsibility, I have to decide. Nobody is going to do it for me. We've been selected. Now it's our discretion and our judgement that has to prevail. Every serial on the air right now is going to be reviewed. If it doesn't come up to our standards it will be thrown out without ceremony.

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