Stir threat by Prasar employees

Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) employees have threatened to launch a four-day-long stir beginning on May 19 to press their demand that Prasar Bharati employees and assets be retained with the government. The stir will be in the form of “work to rule” and may affect the functioning of DD and AIR, given that both have a staff shortage.

stir is being spearheaded by the National Federation of Akashvani and Doordarshan Employees (NFADE). The Federation itself is an umbrella organisation with 21 smaller staff associations comprising various DD and AIR employees as its members. The Federation has claimed that the nearly 40,000 Prasar Bharati employees will be participating in the “work to rule” agitation. This may affect the working of both DD and AIR as they are shortstaffed. The shortage is estimated to be nearly 8,000 employees in Prasar Bharati. For, there have not been any recruitment in the organisation for many years now.

Prasar Bharati sources told this newspaper that it has sought permission from the government to hire people for at least 2,700 “critical” posts in DD and AIR. A proposal regarding the proposed recruitment was sent to the Union ministry of information and broadcasting in April 2007.

The employees are concerned that the group of ministers (GoM) looking into various issues concerning the public broadcaster, are yet to decide on their demand that employees and assets be retained by the government. In the last meeting of the GoM, held in early April, yet another crucial issue — financial and capital restructuring of Prasar Bharati — was discussed. NFADE, however, feels that the deliberating on merely capital restructuring without discussing assets is not in consonance with the assurance given to them earlier.

The Prasar Bharati employees.

State lifts ban on transfers of its employees

fter a long wait the babus of Andhra Pradesh breathed easy as the state government on Saturday issued order to lift the ban on transferring employees working in government departments.

The GO 134 said employees working for more than two years in a particular station can apply for transfer. The order also said that preference would be given to employees who were working in a particular area for a very long period, longest standing employees, those working in difficult areas, family persons and cases of compassionate appointments.

Transfers on medical grounds would also get equal preference.

This relaxation on transfers also extended to the education department and a set of separate guidelines will soon be announced by the department. All transfers other than those for administrative reasons will be done by counselling.

The government order directed heads of departments to start transfers from May 15 and complete by June 16.

All employees seeking transfer will have to mention three preferences and the proceedings will take place accordingly. If more than one employee have the same choice of place, the most senior employee among the group will get the preference subject.

However, all these transfers where the employee’s preference is be considered, will be treated as request transfers. No travelling allowance will be given to the employee.

Revenue earning departments like commercial taxes, prohibition and excise will follow a separate set of guidelines.

Transfers may not take place this year

Much to the disappointment of the government employees, the state is unlikely to take up the annual transfer of its staffers this year.

With more than 1.5 lakh government employees engaged in bypolls or in the preparation of photo-identity cards till September, the government has developed second thoughts over relaxing the ban on transfers.

The Election Commission has already given its approval for transfers in 13 districts where there will be no bypolls. “Though the EC gave clearance for 13 districts, we will take a final decision after discussing the issue in the Cabinet,” the finance minister, Mr K.

Rosaiah said.

As per rules, the government can’t transfer employees engaged in poll activities in 10 districts. In the remaining 13 districts, a special drive is on to prepare photo-identity cards till August 31.

“A similar drive will be taken up in 10 districts where the bypolls are being held after the election process is over in June,” said chief electoral officer, Mr I.V. Subba Rao.

“The election process will certainly affect the transfer of state employees,” said Mr Vithal, the president of Telangana NGOs association.

G0 610 - State asked to fill up vacancies first

n a new twist in the implementation of GO 610, employees’ organisations have requested the state government to focus more on filling up vacancies than on transferring the staff.

Sources said that the representatives of employees’ organisations, including those from Telangana have urged the government to fill up the 7,000 odd vacancies immediately.

A senior government official told this correspondent that the Telangana employees are now insisting on consequential benefits rather than on transfers.

“It could be due to a growing animosity between those who have been transferred and the locals. Employees who have been transferred are upset which has softened the employees’ Telangana stand,” he disclosed.

The state has identified 17,000 non-locals across the state, most of them in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.

A majority of the 12,000 odd non-locals have been found in the Telangana region.

Following a hue and cry by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Telangana employees’ associations and other separatists, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.

Rajasekhar Reddy decided to implement GO 610 in letter and spirit.

“About 75 per cent cases pertain to the Telangana region itself. There are non-locals within Telangana districts. However, about 4,500 teachers and police officers from Hyderabad have been given transfer orders,” he explained.

Another major problem facing the government is the stay order granted by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal.

About 2,000 employees including teachers and police officers have so far obtained stay on transfers.

An aide to the Chief Minister said that the government is implementing GO 610 in letter and spirit as per the Chief Minister’s orders. Barring the 2,000 odd cases who have obtained stay, transfer orders have been issued for all non-locals.