65% posts vacant at AIR, 62% at DD Kohima, says MP in Lok Sabha
Dimapur, November 2 (MExN): Lok Sabha member Supongmeren Jamir has raised serious concerns over an “acute administrative and operational crisis” in the key public broadcasting institutions in Nagaland.
Raising the issue under Rule 377 of the Lok Sabha on Monday, Jamir highlighted the “dire staff shortages” and the “absence of full-time leadership” at the Akashvani Kendra and the Doordarshan Kendra in Kohima.
Jamir presented a data revealing a “staggering gap” between sanctioned posts and actual staffing, stated a press release from the Communication Department, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee.
He said that out of 260 sanctioned posts at Akashvani Kendra Kohima, only 90 are filled, leaving 170 positions vacant, a 65 per cent vacancy.
At Doordarshan Kendra Kohima, only 55 posts are occupied against a sanctioned strength of 144, resulting in 89 vacancies, or a 62 per cent vacancy, Jamir said.
The MP identified the most critical issue as the “complete absence” of a full-time Head of Office (Station Director) at both centres. Currently, administrative and operational control is being remotely managed by a Deputy Director General based in Dibrugarh, Assam.
“This arrangement is severely hampering daily functioning, causing inordinate delays in decision-making, approvals, and effective supervision of broadcast activities and maintenance centres across Nagaland,” Jamir said.
He argued that this administrative vacuum and the high number of vacancies are undermining the core function of Prasar Bharati to serve as a platform for Nagaland's cultural heritage, linguistic diversity, and developmental narrative.
Jamir emphasised that the lack of recruitment and the non-posting of key administrative and technical personnel, including Directors, Deputy Directors, and Engineering staff, is “unacceptable.” He formally sought urgent intervention from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
His demands include the immediate appointment of full-time, dedicated Heads of Office for both Kendras in Kohima, expediting the filling of all sanctioned vacant posts, and addressing specific shortage of technical staff, including Technical Assistants (TAs) and Junior Technical Assistants (JTAs), particularly at AIR Kohima and the Local Radio Station in Mokokchung.
Jamir assured the people of Nagaland that he would persistently follow up on the matter until concrete steps are taken, stating that a robust and fully staffed Akashvani and Doordarshan is a “democratic imperative” for the state.
