Nagaland MP Sounds Alarm Over Critical Staff Shortages in Central Broadcasting Institutions
In a significant parliamentary intervention, Nagaland's Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir raised serious concerns on Wednesday regarding severe staff shortages plaguing central broadcasting institutions in the northeastern state. Speaking under Rule 377 in Parliament, Jamir highlighted how these vacancies are crippling the functioning of vital public broadcasting services.
Decade-Long Recruitment Issues Disadvantage Local Candidates
The MP pointed to long-standing recruitment problems that have systematically disadvantaged eligible candidates from Nagaland in Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations. Jamir referenced a specific Employment News/Rozgar Samachar notification dated March 23, 2013, where the SSC advertised 15 vacancies for programme executives and transmission executives (production assistants) in Doordarshan and All India Radio in Nagaland.
Remarkably, not a single candidate from the state qualified for these positions. Jamir identified the primary barrier as the Hindi Paper-II requirement, which has created an insurmountable obstacle for local aspirants in a predominantly English-speaking region.
Alarming Vacancy Statistics Across Broadcasting Departments
Jamir presented staggering vacancy figures that reveal the extent of the staffing crisis:
- In Doordarshan Kendra, Kohima: 89 out of 144 sanctioned posts remain vacant
- In the programme section of All India Radio, Kohima: 64 out of 79 posts are vacant
- In the administrative section: 56 out of 90 posts are vacant
- In the engineering section: 50 out of 91 posts are lying vacant
These numbers paint a dire picture of understaffing that compromises the operational capacity of these crucial institutions.
Impact on Public Broadcasting and Regional Representation
The MP emphasized that such large-scale vacancies are severely affecting the functioning and outreach of public broadcasting services in Nagaland. These institutions play a vital role in information dissemination, cultural preservation, and regional representation, particularly in a state with unique linguistic and cultural characteristics.
With so many positions unfilled, the ability of Doordarshan and All India Radio to effectively serve Nagaland's population is significantly diminished, potentially leaving information gaps in remote areas and undermining cultural programming.
Call for Inclusive Recruitment Policies
Jamir made a compelling case for policy reform, urging the concerned ministry to:
- Launch a special recruitment drive specifically for Nagaland
- Relax the Hindi language requirement that has excluded qualified candidates
- Conduct Paper I and II examinations in English to ensure equal opportunity for local youth
The MP argued that recruitment policies must be inclusive and sensitive to the linguistic realities of the northeastern region. Deserving candidates should not be denied opportunities due to language barriers unrelated to actual job performance, especially when these positions are meant to serve local communities.
This parliamentary intervention highlights a systemic issue affecting public broadcasting in India's northeastern states, where language requirements designed for other regions create unintended barriers to local employment and effective service delivery.
