NEW DELHI: There were 10591 vacancies against the total sanctioned strength of 26129 as on 1 January this year at All India Radio Stations/ Offices in the country.

However, Prasar Bharati sources told Radioandmusic.com that station-wise vacancies are not being maintained centrally. It was emphasised that occurrence of vacancies is a dynamic process.

Vacancies have occurred over a long period of time due to retirement, death and resignation.

The vacancies falling under promotional quota are filled up by holding meetings of Departmental Promotional Committee periodically which is a continuous process.

As regards vacancies under Direct Recruitment Quota, one time dispensation was given by the Government for recruitment of Groups B and C posts which were approved by the Group of Ministers. The process of recruitment is being undertaken through Staff Selection Commission.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said in Parliament recently that the Ministry was in touch with the Union Public Service Commission about recruitment. The UPSC had earlier refused to make recruitment on the ground that Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body.

Meanwhile, modernisation and upgradation work has been undertaken in more than 200 radio stations of All India Radio during the last three years and the current year.

AIR stations are functional at 413 places in the country, and the sources denied that any station is non-functional because of shortage of staff or inadequate equipment.