Mangalore: Broadcasts Hit - AIR-DD Employees on Do or Die Battle

Pics by Ganesh Perla
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 23: Demanding the repeal of Prasar Bharati Act 1990 and dissolution of Prasar Bharati, employees of Akashvani and Doordarshan affiliated to the National Federation of Akashvani and Doordarshan Employees (NFADE) are on a two-day strike, duly paralyzing the broadcast of programmes by these two entities. Since 9 am today, they have taken up the 48-hour boycott of work, which will be on till 9 am on November 25.

On Tuesday November 23 morning, employees of both Akashvani and Doordarshan staged a demonstration in front of the local Akashvani Kendra, holding placards. They also raised slogans, demanding to meet their demands.

A release by the local unit of NFADE said that 336 Akashvani Kendras and 1,464 Dordarshan Kendras from all over the country would be taking part in the current agitation. The federation has accused the present chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati of providing a distorted picture about the current financial status of Prasar Bharati, as a result of which, the body has been deprived of financial assistance from the centre. It said that the CEO of Prasar Bharati had recently convinced the Group of Ministers that Prasar Bharati would be able to earn 50% of total expenditure on its own, which it has termed as unrealistic. The employees are worried about their own survival, in case the organization for which they work, meets natural death shortly hereafter, and hence, decided to take up this do or die battle, NFADE said.

“The current financial situation is such that even maintenance of transmitters, buildings and other basic infrastructure has been rendered difficult. Even the salaries of the employees are not being paid promptly. These bodies, which are run with the aim of serving the public, can not endeavour to compete with private channels and create their own revenue sources to meet the costs. Unless the government extends assistance, both these organizations may face closure soon,” NFADE stated. It also said that a 72-hour strike from December 13 to 16 will be organized if the government does not change its stand after the current agitation. It added that the proposed strike will be converted into an indefinite strike, if the response of the government continues to be lukewarm.

It may be recalled that at the recent national seminar held in the city under the aegis of NFADE, a resolution had been passed, urging the union government to immediately dissolve Prasar Bharati, which has been reduced into an organization that looks after the interests of a handful of people, and urging the government to take over the management of both the AIR and Doordarshan.