An annual allowance of Rs 5,000 for winter clothing and another Rs 2,000 for summer; a washing allowance of Rs 400 per month and a hospitality allowance of Rs 800 per month. Merit scholarship, subject to maximum of two children, and an initial incentive of five increments to each employee are just a few of the recommendations by the Prasar Bharati Corporation, which is in the process of formulating rules for a new, truely corporate look.To begin with, sarkari form of addressing officers as officials will be replaced with the more corporate ‘managers’. So, there is a chief general manager (programme), managing director, deputy general manager, additional manager and so on.Corporation officials have also looked at some ‘‘mini-navratnas’’ to come up with regulations of their own. For instance, the demand for interest-free advances under the following heads: Flood/Drought/Cyclone; advance in connection with legal proceedings, advance for training in Hindi through correspondence course; fan advance; DTH receive system and house building advance are some of the incentives that are being brandished before the staffBut as with any Government organisation, which has had the corporation status bestowed on it, officials in Prasar Bharati too think the recommendations might just tempt the Government to take effective control of the Corp and revert to being its mouthpiece. The Corporation has been directed by the Supreme Court to frame the service conditions by May 13.Interestingly, some officials are reconciling to the fact that a few of the demands may never be accepted by the ministry which has to give its nod. ‘‘It will never be acceptable to the I&B Ministry which disburses the taxpayer’s money to the Corporation,’’ said an official source.Many, regardless of the cynicism, think there is room for hard-bargain. ‘‘Other corporations have higher salary structures,’’ they say.
