Suresh Unnithan
Intense initiative from Prasar Bharati to acquire state-of–the-art technology for upgrading performance at par with international standards is highly appreciable. Along with this, may be to lessen the extra financial burden that may mount on the national exchequer, an administrative decision was also taken to close down its outdated terrestrial Broadcasting field units since the system has already been switch over to the new technologies available in the area of broadcast and telecast. As per the direction of the Board as many as 450 obsolete field units- High Power Transmitters (HPT), Low power Transmitters (LPT) and Doordarshan Maintenance centres (DMC have already been closed down so far. By the current financial year end about 100 more such outdate terrestrial Broadcasting field units will be wound up.
In fact, the obsolete field units were shut down with the ingenuous intention of lessening financial load on the public broad caster that has been totally depending on the grant-in-aid from the consolidates fund of India. But the outcome of this effort has been proved counterproductive, thanks to the lackadaisical approach of the Board and Administration.
According to a senior official of the public broadcaster said that due to closure of these field units, over 2700 employees belonging to the engineering cadre are now surplus in Prasar Bharati.
An approximate figure of the idled employee and the financial burden on the public broadcaster are given follows:
- Average staff strength (Engineering) in field transmitters – 6Nos.
(Includes Assistant Engineer, Senior Engineering Assistant,
Engineering Assistants, Technicians)
- Approximate transmitters to be closed all over India – 450
- Approximate surplus employees – 450 X 6 = 2700
- Average monthly salary payable to each employee – Rs.94,000/- per month.
(Average duty hours per month = 200 hours)
(25 working days per month with 8 working hours per day)
- Average salary payable per day (Rs. 94,000/ 30) – Rs. 3133/-
- Average salary payable per duty hour – Rs.470/-
(Rs.94,000/200 = Rs.470)
- Average monthly salary being payable to approximately – Rs.25,38,00,000/-
2700 surplus employees (Rs.94000 x 2700/ = 25,38,00,000)
According to the above tabulation provided by the senior Prasar Bharati afficial, about 25.38 crores of public money is spent per month to maintain these out of work employees. A simple arithmetic explains that due to the flawed approach of Prasar Bharati’s flawed attitude the national exchequer is losing over Rs 304.56 crore per annum, an amount sufficient to feed a state like Kerala for a full month.
Informed sources from within said, the Prasar Bharati is under huge financial stress due to the existing surplus engineering staff. However “the authorities are continuing with recruitment extravaganza. Over 700 personals were recently inducted as Engineering Assistants and Transmission Executives without any assessment of manpower requirement. These appointments were happening while Prasar Bharati has been closing down its filed units and transmitters across the country and also maintaining surplus engineering staff at the cost of public money.”
The official further said “Prasar Bharati has not carried out an effective man power audit so far in view of its operational and administrative requirement. An effective man power audit in time to time is very essential for best of utilization of human resource in any organization. Competence and skill of work force certainly gives in built strength to organization.”
The below posted documents will elaborate more on Prasar Bharati’ “initiatives” to amplify the performance of the public broadcaster and most importantly curtail expenditure, make utmost utilisation of human resource, save public money adhering the thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Modi had introduced Mission Karmayogi “to radically improve the Human Resource management in the Government.” By trimming his own personal expenses Modi presented a perfect model. In May 2019, soon after assuming power for the second consecutive term Prime Minister Modi reduced the strength of his personal staff at his residence-cum-office by more than half. From a little over 50, the number of his personal staff has now been reduced to 25, including peons and clerical staff.
Following PM’s austerity measures the Union government also decided to reduce “wasteful expenditure” by 20 percent. But, Prasar Bharati is not concerned of such expense cuts, may be because it is an autonomous institution even insulated from PM’s austerity initiatives.
