MAM
Prasar Bharati to be flexible on commercial policy
NEW DELHI: Former Zee Telefilms chief executive and marketing whiz Vijay Jindal, who had been appointed as the chairman of the advisory marketing committee of Prasar Bharati, has got into action.
The advisory committee has suggested that keeping in mind the fast changing scenario in the business of TV, there should be flexibility in Prasar Bharati while taking commercial decisions. The committee has further said the policy should come up for review every month.
Prasar Bharati oversees the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio, two of the biggest public service broadcasters in the world. In the past, it has been seen that inflexibility on the part of DD, mainly, where rate cards for advertisements are concerned, has led to loss in revenue which has gone the way of private satellite channels where such commercial decision makings are flexible keeping in mind the client and the situation.
As per the present arrangement, the Prasar Bharati board approves the rate card and commercial policy of Doordarshan which can lead to delays, it has been pointed out.
At a board meeting of the Prasar Bharati on Friday, flexibility relating to commercial decisions was one of the talking points, amongst other issues.
Prasar Bharati sources pointed out that the board considered the marketing advisory committee’s suggestions and the rationale for monthly review as the present practice does not allow flexibility in commercial operations. As a result, Doordarshan is slow to react to market changes, while other private operators are swift in their reaction, the sources said.
From now onwards, an empowered committee shall review the rate card and guidelines regarding commercial policy of Doordarshan as also the AIR. The empowered committee shall comprise Prasar Bharati chief executive KS Sarma, member (finance) S Sundresan and director-general of Doordarshan SY Quraishi.
The committee shall make necessary changes in the commercial policy so as to keep it in tune with the market realities. If need be, the committee can make changes without waiting for the monthly meeting too.
The decisions of the committee, of course, shall be put up for ratification by the Prasar Bharati board in the board meeting following such decision(s).
With this change, it is expected that Doordarshan will be in a position to react to market conditions more quickly than before.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
