DD, AIR may recruit on contract for Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI: Reeling under severe staff crunch, official broadcasters of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, All India Radio and Doordarshan, are considering recruitment of personnel on contract basis to meet the shortage.

Describing the problem of shortage of manpower as "severe", Prasar Bharati CEO B S Lalli said the total shortage of manpower in both the public service broadcasters was more than 17,000 personnel.

"The shortage of manpower exists as a large number of projects -- 488 to be exact -- were installed during the IXth and Xth plan periods. In few cases, manpower has been partially sanctioned but recruitment has not been conducted for over a period of 17 years now," Lalli said.

He pointed out that the shortage was aggravated as several Prasar Bharati personnel had also retired during this period.

Lalli said though sanctioned manpower was not provided both the organisations have plans in place to make effective use of the available staff.

"We are already engaged in right-sizing our manpower and multi-tasking is being promoted," he said.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and External Affairs, Anand Sharma said the government was "continuing its efforts to make the public broadcasters more effective."

"They will be getting whatever resources and support required from the government. A detailed presentation in this regard has already been submitted by senior officials. Issues will be addressed on an urgent basis," Sharma said.