In a significant move, the group of ministers looking into the financial restructuring Prasar Bharati has decided to treat over 90 per cent of the state-owned broadcaster's 37,000-strong workforce as government employees.

All those who joined Prasar Bharati before October 5, 2007, will be treated as government employees on "deemed deputation". At present, the status of these employees is not clear as they are treated as on "deemed deputation" and don't get the benefits of a government job like regular promotions, government housing and bonuses.

According to the estimates of Prasar Bharati, there are only about 3,326 employees who were recruited after October 5, 2007. They will be treated as Prasar Bharati employees, according to the GoM decision. The rest, about 33,670 staffers of Doordarshan and All India Radio, will be treated as government employees.

So far there was ambiguity in the status of these employees as they were neither treated as government servants nor as employees of an autonomous body. This led to several administrative and financial complications, including lack of clear guidelines on recruitments and promotions.

The matter is also currently pending before the Supreme Court. The government is likely to make amendments to the Prasar Bharati Act and will soon send the proposal for Cabinet approval, say sources.

In a recent GoM meeting, it was decided that all those who joined Prasar Bharati between November 23, 1997, and October 5, 2007, will be considered as government employees on "deemed deputation".