THE NE zonal office of Prasar Bharati will be empowered to recruit its staff, besides controlling and managing the staff as the Union Government deciding to separate the North-East zonal staff cadres of the Doordarshan and the All India Radio Services.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Sankar Prasad disclosed this through a demi-official letter recently in reply to a question raised by Dr Arun Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP from Assam. Dr Sharma informed that the matter was raised by him in the Rajya Sabha on May 7 last. In reply to his question, the minister said the “complex process of creating a new zone out of the existing zone was in progress”. Mr Prasad informed the MP that an exclusive budget had been provided for the establishment of North-east zonal office to look after the air and the DD stations in the region. A separate budget provision will also be made for project management. AIR, DD scheme for NE states during 10th Plan Provisions of Rs 170.5 crore and Rs 380.55 crore have been kept for AIR and Doordarshan respectively in the 10th Plan for the schemes to be implemented under Phase-II of the Special North-east Package, which is yet to be approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee. Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the special package for expansion and improvement of AIR and Doordarshan services in North-east and island territories was approved in principle by the Government in October, 2001.. The Minister said that a separate North-East zone was created by setting up a small office with limited staff in a rented building in Guwahati. A Chief Engineer has also been posted in Guwahati. Budget has been provided for the establishment of North-East Zone office, Mr Prasad said. Mr Prasad further told that the work for enhancement of height of RCC-cum-steel town at Dibrugarh had been tendered with wide publicity, but no response was received.

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