Pressed for time

A 24X7 control room set up by the government earlier this week is creating a lot of heartburn among functionaries in the ministry of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The control room will keep track of important and sensitive developments reported in the media, particularly the TV channels. Therefore, PIB personnel will have to work in shifts. A PIB directive has stipulated three shifts — a day shift (7.30 am to 6 p m) and two night shifts (6 pm to 12.30 am and 12 midnight to 8 am), with shorter hours on the weekends. Such odd hours maybe normal for any print or TV journalist, but for the nine-to-fivers of the PIB, it amounts to a life-changing event.