To,
Shri Manish Tewari, Honorable Minister, Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi Dated: Guwahati, 3rd October 2013 Subject: Closure of Prime News Dear Sir, We, the employees of Prime News- a 24x7 satellite news channel headquartered in Guwahati, Assam, would hereby like to draw your kind attention towards some shocking irregularities and violation of all ethical, legal and humanitarian norms by the management of the channel. The management of Prime News, without any prior notice, had declared on 30th September 2013 that the channel will be closed down from the next day. It is worth mentioning here that for several months despite repeated queries by the employees of the news channel, the management as well as the managing editor was denying that the channel might be closed down or sold over. The Brahmaputra Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. owned by Mr. Suresh Prithani, which had taken over the channel in 2012 repeatedly made promises of increments and investments in the news channel. However they neither fulfilled those promises nor had they informed the employees about any development taking place in this regard. Despite a lot of stories in the air about the channel being closed down or sold over, the employees were kept in the dark about everything. The management never gave any clear answer to the queries of the employees. However on 30th September last, the management abruptly informed the employees that the channel will not be on air from the very next day and two moths’ salaries will be paid. Following this the employees demanded a formal closure notice and immediate disbursement of 4 months’ salary as the closure was not declared earlier to prepare the employees for other career options. The management, after a long time agreed to give three months salary to those over the rupees 15000 slab and 4 moths salaries to those under the rupees 15000 slab. Keeping in mind the lack of transparency on the part of the management the employees decided not to let Mr. Mridul Phukan, Director, Mr. Pranjal Phukan, Managing Editor and Mr. Durlobh Saikia, HR Head leave the office premises until all dues are paid. All the employees stayed in the office till the management, under immense pressure started the process of disbursement of the dues started next day. The district correspondents and stringers as well as various other parties like stationery suppliers, security agencies etc were also called by the employees to get their dues. This was made possible only because of the perseverance and unity of the employees who were determined not to give up their rights. However, the management has not given any formal closure notice till now. It is heard that the management has taken a new partner to run the channel who wanted all the employees to be sacked. The matter has also been discussed and seriously taken up by the Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA). The EMFA has decided to take various steps including a demonstration protesting the gross irregularity and injustice meted out to the employees of Prime News by its management. Sir, we also request you to look into the matter as the electronic media journalists do not come under the purview of Press Council of India. Therefore we are looking up to your good office for the justice. Thanking you in anticipation. With regards, Mrinal Kumar Bora Luit Pathak Abhijit Gogoi (9864065035) Achintya Sharma Basanta Kumar Sharma Rhiddhis Chakravorty (9854051082) Bedanta Bhargav Bora Chandrashekhar Choudhury Pranab Basumatary Guptajit Bayan Manoj Deb Arundhati Deuri Madhumita Goswami Kangkana Goswami Pranab Bhuyan _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
