Itanagar: The Itanagar unit of Association of Prasar Bharati Engineering Employees (APBEE) on Monday organized a peaceful nationwide lunch-hour gate meeting at all Akashvani and Doordarshan stations, including Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) here, to press for long-pending service-related demands.
The protest, held between 1 pm and 2 pm, sought to draw the attention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the management of Prasar Bharati towards grievances that the employees said have remained unresolved for years.
According to the APBEE, the key demands include the repeal of the “arbitrary and discriminatory” cut-off date of October 5, 2007, which they claimed has resulted in significant service injustices, and the restoration of family pension rights, citing the case of late Jyoti Prakash Trivedi, an Engineering Assistant with DD News.
The employees also demanded the promotion of engineering staff, noting that some cases have been pending for over 18 years, leading to stagnation and demoralization within the cadre.
Other major demands raised during the protest included the restoration of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits, recognition of APBEE under the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993, eligibility for central pool accommodation, and parity in service conditions to align with constitutional guarantees of equality under Articles 14 and 16.
The APBEE stressed that the protest was conducted peacefully without disturbing broadcast operations or public services. It expressed hope that the government and Prasar Bharati management would take immediate steps to address the employees’ long-standing grievances.
The APBEE Unit at Itanagar reaffirmed its commitment to public service and constitutional justice, calling for strengthening the national broadcaster by ensuring the welfare of its employees.
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