Lok Sabha Question No. 2702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Restarting of AIR, Delhi
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2702 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2021)

## REGULARISATION OF STAFF IN AIR

## 2702:  SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  reglularise  the  casual  Announcers  and Compares working at all Stations for more than ten years who are most experienced and skilled;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to restart the Stations of All India Radio in Delhi which have been shut down by the Government unreasonably;
- (d) whether the payment of duties be increased, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  cap  of  six  days  duties  be  removed  and  29  days  duties  circular  be implemented, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## The  MINISTER  OF  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING;  AND  MINISTER  OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) and (b): A Scheme for regularization of irregular appointments/engagements in Prasar Bharati (All India Radio & Doordarshan), as a onetime measure, has been formulated by Prasar Bharati in  pursuance  of  Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  O.M.  No.  49019/1/2006-Estt(C)  dated 11.12.2006  as  per  parameters  laid  down  by  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  CA  3595-3612  of 1999 in Secretary, State of Karnataka and others versus Uma Devi and others as interpreted in its successive judgments.

The Scheme was approved by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in consultation with DOPT  and  Ministry  of  Law  and  Justice  and  was  widely  circulated  by  Prasar  Bharati  vide Circular dated 05.09.2019. This scheme also covers casual announcers and comperes working at the stations. To overcome difficulties in applying under the scheme, an IT Portal (url http://iars.prasarbharati.org) was developed, so that those desirous to apply for consideration of their  claim  for  regularization  as  per  the  criteria  laid  down  in  the  Scheme  may  submit  their applications online in a transparent manner. Applications  received  are  scrutinized  to  determine  their  eligibility  for  regularization  based  on fulfilling condition of continuous engagement of 10 years from year 11.04.1996 to 10.04.2006 and all other eligibility criteria/parameters laid down in the Scheme. (c) All India Radio, Delhi station has not been shut down. It continues to operate multiple radio services  which  may  be  accessed  in  Delhi,  across  India  and  anywhere  in  the  world  through various  modes  -  FM  (in  Delhi),  Digital  Radio  DRM  MW  (Delhi  and  adjacent  regions),  DTH Satellite Radio on DD FreeDish (across India), Internet Streaming through NewsOnAir App and newsonair.com website (anywhere in the world). (d) The fee of a Casual Assignee performing the duties of announcement and related work during the  transmission  has  been  increased from  Rs.1300/-  to  Rs.1600/-  per  duty  with  effect  from 01.04.2021. (e)  Engagement  on  Casual  basis  is  for  specific  assignments  on  a  need  basis.  The  extant guidelines stipulate that the number of duties of such Assignees should not exceed 6 days in a month and 72 days in a year. Such Assignees engaged in this mode are free to take up full/part time employment anywhere else.

*****