Question : Shortage of Staff

(a) whether most of the kendras of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) are facing acute shortage of technical and non-technical staff, if so, the details of vacant posts vis-a-vis sanctioned posts, DD/AIR and category-wise;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation;

(c) the number of casual/contractual employees engaged by various kendras of DD/AIR in the country;

(d) whether the Government proposes for regularisation of the services of casual/ contractual employees working for a long period in the said kendras, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the other measures taken by the Government to recruit adequate staff to ensure satisfactory functioning of DDKs and AIR broadcasting centres?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a) and (b): Though there are vacancies in All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD), there is a need to reassess actual requirement of staff in Prasar Bharati keeping in view changes in broadcast technologies. Prasar Bharati has been advised to carry out a Manpower Audit to identify posts actually needed to be filled up. Details of sanctioned posts category-wise in DD/ AIR are as under:

<pre>
Group-A Group-B Group-C (including erstwhile Group-D) Total
AIR 2002 4571 19556 26129

DD 1083 5964 13580 20627

Total 3085
10535
33136
46756

</pre>


(c): Prasar Bharati has intimated that there are 8258 casual Announcers, 2622 casual Compere and 97 contractual employees in various Stations of AIR. Prasar Bharati has further informed that there are 18 casual employees and 488 contractual employees in various Doordarshan Kendras.
(d): Prasar Bharati has informed that at present there is no proposal under consideration for regularization of casuals/ contractual employees empanelled or engaged in various Kendras/ Stations of DD/ AIR as the empanelment of casual assignees is on need basis as per program/ transmission exigencies and as per the terms and conditions of engagement/ empanelment of contractuals/ casuals, there is no provision for their regularisation.

(e): Recruitment for the critically essential posts cleared by the Group of Ministers has been undertaken through Staff Selection Commission as a special dispensation with the approval of the Government. The process of recruitment of 2365 number of posts in various Technical and Non-technical categories has been completed.

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