AIR, Doordarshan facing shortage of employees: CEO

Varanasi, Nov 6 (UNI) Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer Baljit Singh Lali said there was a shortfall of employees in All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.

Mr Lali, who was in the city for launching a Bhojpuri bulletin in the AIR, addressing newsmen, said there were 47,000 employees in Prasar Bharti and Doordarshan in 1997, the year when the Prasar Bharti had commenced. But at present, when the work has increased manifold their number is 37,000.

All efforts were being made to overcome the shortage, the CEO added.

However, when being asked about the competition of Doordarshan and AIR with private channels, Mr Lali said we do not see any competition. ''Our motto is not just earning revenue, but to inform the people about the latest developments in social, economic and political sectors and also to educate them.

Infact, Radio and Doordarshan have covered wide areas when compared to the private channels, he averred.

He said listenership of Akashwani has not come down, but has increased. People were getting fond of FM channels and for the last four years, the number of FM listeners have risen from 16 per cent to 78 per cent.

Mr Lali claimed that at present, the Akashwani was broadcasting news in altogether 88 languages and with the introduction of the Bhojpuri language bulletin today, the number has reached to 89.

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