Nagaland: Supongmeren flags staffing crisis at Akashvani and Doordarshan Kohima

Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir has raised serious concern over the acute administrative and operational crisis affecting Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendras in Kohima.
Raising the issue under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha on December 1, Supongmeren drew the attention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to the severe staff shortages and absence of full-time leadership at both public broadcasting institutions.
According to data presented by the MP, Akashvani Kendra Kohima has only 90 staff against a sanctioned strength of 260, leaving 170 posts vacant (65% vacancy). Doordarshan Kendra Kohima fares no better, with just 55 staff against 144 sanctioned posts, resulting in 89 vacancies (62% vacancy).
The most critical concern highlighted was the lack of a full-time Head of Office (Station Director) at both Kendras. Currently, administrative control is being remotely managed by a Deputy Director General based in Dibrugarh, Assam, which has led to delays in decision-making, approvals, and supervision of broadcast activities across Nagaland.
Supongmeren stated that this administrative vacuum and high vacancy rate are undermining the core mandate of Prasar Bharati to promote Nagaland’s cultural heritage, linguistic diversity, and developmental narrative.
He termed the non-posting of key personnel—including Directors, Deputy Directors, and engineering staff—as unacceptable, and urged the Ministry to: immediately appoint full-time Heads of Office for both Kendras; expedite recruitment to fill all sanctioned posts and address the shortage of technical staff, especially at AIR Kohima and the Local Radio Station in Mokokchung.
Supongmeren assured that he will continue to pursue the matter until concrete steps are taken, stating that a fully staffed public broadcaster is not just an administrative requirement but a democratic necessity for the state.