After tireless efforts of NFADE for the last one year, Ministry of I&B and Directorates of AIR&DD had issued the orders for the implementation of the recommendations of 6th CPC to the employees of AIR&DD, as per the notification of the Ministry of Finance. 
On reports from some stations about apprehension of non implementation of pay revision as per the notification of Ministry of Finance to the subordinate engineering and programme cadres, ARTEE & PSA took up the matter with DG, AIR, Prasar Bharati and Ministry of I & B. We have cautioned the authorities that we will react strongly and go for immediate agitation, if the pay of our cadres are not revised on the basis of pay scales as on 01/01/2006, as notified by Ministry of Finance. Letters written by ARTEE to DG:AIR and Ministry of I&B available in website. PSA also wrote similar letters.
In response to our first letter for clarification, we were told that the clarification for the implementation of pay scale on the basis of the pay scales as on 1st January 2006 will be issued by the Directorate of AIR by 15th September 2008.
Meanwhile one Association, who had been demanding immediate implementation of section 11 of Prasar Bharati Act to seek option of employees to absorb in Prasar Bharati (inspite of the fact that PB is financially not viable to feed the employees), has written a letter to CEO, Prasar Bharati demanding not to grant the benefit of Pay commission to the subordinate engineering & programme cadres on the basis of existing pay scales but only on the basis of pay scales prior to 25-2-1999.
Accordingly, DG:AIR informed us to take up the matter with Prasar Bharati. We had repeated meetings with Member Personnel (CEO was in Italy) and other senior officials and both ARTEE & PSA has categorically informed them that we will be compelled to start total strike if our cadres are deprived of the benefits on pay fixation. We have submitted supporting documents such as recommendations of Fast Track committee ( of Secretaries) constituted after 5th CPC, cabinet decision in November 1997, reply from Ministry of I&B to an audit objection in December 2006 and verdicts of various court cases to prove that the restoration of pay scales as per the order dated 25-02-1999 were in continuation to the recommendation to the 5th Central Pay Commission. On 15th September itself Member (P) had sought time upto 18th September 2008 to settle the matter.  The senior officials of the Ministry as well as CEO, PB were very well aware of these facts and it is learnt that Ministry has advised Prasar Bharati that it is not an issue for any valid discussion. It is also learnt that legal opinion received by Prasar Bharati was also agreeing with our demand.
Member (P) chaired a meeting of senior officials of PB, AIR & DD at 3 pm on 18/9/2008 to finally settle the matter. It is learnt that M(P) has informed the letter written by that particular association and the demand of the two Associations, ARTEE & PSA to fix the pay corresponding to the pay bands of the pay scales in which they were drawing pay as on 01.01.2006. All the officers present, unanimously agreed with the demand of ARTEE & PSA to fix the pay bands corresponding to the pay scales in which subordinate engineering and programme employees were drawing as on 01.01.2006. It was decided in the meeting that notification issued by Ministry of Finance should be followed.  
Accordingly Prasar Bharati has issued the letters to ARTEE and PSA at 06.30 PM on 18/9/08 and we approached DG: AIR for the clarification thereafter. We had discussion in length with DG & DDG(A) and ultimately the order was issued by 08.00 PM. We immediately conveyed to our Zonal VPs and a number of unit secretaries who were enquiring about the developments. On 19th morning we had meetings with DG, ADG(A&F) and DDG(A) and thereafter the clarifications were issued by the Directorate of Doordarshan also. All these letters were uploaded in our website immediately on receipt of the same on 18th & 19th September 2008.
We are grateful to our office bearers and members throughout the country for the strength of unity shown as per the call of ARTEE & PSA. Once again ARTEE proved its responsibility towards the cause of the subordinate engineering cadres.