Shakespeare knows ETV better than India's Media class.

Shakespeare had known the ETV centuries ago. His play Merchant of Venice is the good example of how ETV Management has learned from Shakespeare's plays though negatively. They took the role of Shylock for their company against their Trainee Journalists who signed a bond with ETV same as Antonio did with Shylock. Instead of flesh from Journalists, they have asked them to compensate 1,00000 for what they have learned from ETV, assuming that they have given nothing to ETV. Neither a single news story, nor a single TRP achievement.

What all happened with Antonio in that play is just a height of brutality of human nature. This human nature of money lenders in that Europe, some how transformed in a institutionalised form. I just went through the ETV Bond which they have forced on their Trainee Journalists to make them contract labourer es in free India. It is fine that they are supporting training but does it not look like the support which Shylock offered to Antonio to give him money without interest and would take only one pond flesh.
Please look some parts of the play which discusses the cruel and drconian Bond similar to that one of ETV.

SHYLOCK
This kindness will I show.Go with me to a notary, seal me thereYour single bond; and, in a merry sport,If you repay me not on such a day,In such a place, such sum or sums as areExpress'd in the condition, let the forfeitBe nominated for an equal poundOf your fair flesh, to be cut off and takenIn what part of your body pleaseth me.



ANTONIO
Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bondAnd say there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO
You shall not seal to such a bond for me:I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

ANTONIO
Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it:Within these two months, that's a month beforeThis bond expires, I do expect returnOf thrice three times the value of this bond.

in scene three



SHYLOCK
I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond:I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause;But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs:The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fondTo come abroad with him at his request.



ANTONIO
I pray thee, hear me speak.

SHYLOCK
I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yieldTo Christian intercessors. Follow not;I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond

See the Bond which Shylock had asked Antonio to comply with. It is not the case of dark age of Europe, just take a look of ETV Bond whose mathematics is not much different from that one of Shylock's.

From ETV Bond Article Nine.

If the trainee fails to perform any of his obligation under this agreement, the trainee agrees that he shall compensate the company as follows:-i) a sum of Rs.1,00,000/-(Rupees one lakh only) if the trainee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the training period of one year.ii) A sum of Rs. 75,000/- (Rupees seventy five thousand only) if the trainee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the first year of service after completion of training.iii) A sum of Rs. 50,000/-(Rupees fifty thousand only) if the employee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the second year of service after completion of training.Explanation :- Failure to perform his obligations include termination, dismissal or discharge for breach of any of the terms and conditions of this agreement or for any other reason, or breach of any of the rules and regulations of the company, absconding and resignation etc.

In a period of one year many of ETV young journalists might have brought hundreds thousands advertisements through their skilled and sharp writing, they might have brought higher TRP rates for the Channels but the company would not spare them free. It will take One lakh rupees if they gave up the job even 24 hours before one year.

Just check the Mathematics of a journalist.

Monthly Salary---------5000

ESI cut off----------------98.00

Prof. Tax-----------------60.00

EPF---------------------646

Cash in hand----------4196.00

Just imagine, you are in Hydrabad and you are surely not staying free of cost in Ramoji Film City, nor getting free food any more. After cutting this cost you will get the payment like that

Room rent---------------800 (Minimum)

Food cost----------------1800 (Modest food not for health)

Some local convenience----200 (If you want to visit city three times in a month)

So now you will save from your monthly cash stipend 4196, only and only 1396. That is all for what you have signed that great Bond with ETVian Shylocks. Can a free Indian imagine such evident exploitation of a young talent in this country. Mr. Ramoji Rao the honorable chairman of the company knows or does not know the fact, but would he ever allow his grandsons to undergo such inhuman treatment on the name of Training.

After that small money you are supposed to stay there for three years without any objection, demands etc. If you dared to leave, or you been suspended by them you would have to pay one lakh rupees in first year. You earned only 60000, and would be forced to pay 1,00000. What a great Justice is that!

Now I came to learn that they have also kept certificates of many students to keep them stuck in that big ETVian bushes for three year by force. Can any Indian allow even Britishers to practice like that. No , surely not!

I just can say that ETV is going to take Shylock's role in today's labour market. My simple question to readers is that would you ever bother to stop these malpractices and get these journalists rid from this mental mess.

Let us take on the issue! Make it issue of journalistic dignity!

MAY THE GLORY BE OURS!

हम वो थे..जो लड़कपन में सिर्फ लड़कियों या महंगे कपड़ों के बारे में ही नहीं, दुनिया के बारे में भी सोचा करते थे..।
हम वो थे..जिन्होंने टीवी चैनलों के चमचमाते सेट्स पर नामचीन लोगों को देखकर..बदलाव की राह के तौर पर मीडिया को चुना..।
उम्मीद एक सार्थक जीवन की थी..। जज्बा..कुछ कर दिखाने का..।
लेकिन इस ख्वाहिश के एवज़ में मिली मीडिया के guantanamo bay(read etv) में सपनों को कैद..।
आखिर क्यों..?
क्या इसलिए नहीं, कि उन ऊंची अट्टालिकाओं में बैठे उस बिग बॉस के दिमाग में हमारी मेहनत की लूट के शातिर नक्शे पल रहे थे..।
क्या इसलिए नहीं, कि उनके पास खरीदने की कुव्वत है और हमारे पास बिकने के सिवाए चारा नहीं..।
रास्ते दो ही हैं। या तो ETV के उस ज़हरीले पेड़ से निकले सस्ते फल बनकर मीडिया की एक मंडी से दूसरी मंडी में ताउम्र बिकते रहें..। या नयेपन के साथ कलम की क्रांति के बीज बनें..।
किसी ने कहा है- EVEN A JOURNEY OF THOUSAND MILES STARTS FROM A SINGLE STEP..ये पहला कदम, ETV में कैद न जाने कितने सपनों को वेतन की गुलामी से आज़ादी दिला सकता है..। ऐसी उम्मीद है..।
और हम अकेले नहीं। दिल्ली के पत्रकार जगत के कुछ ऐसे लोग..जो इस भेड़ियाधसान में भी खुद को जिंदा रख पाए हैं..। आज हमारे साथ हैं..।
उनके हथियार बहुत पैने हैं..और एक होना वक्त की ज़रुरत बन गया है..।
ये मुहिम ऐसे हर निजाम के खिलाफ़ है जहां मेहनत और काबिलियत किसी तिजोरी की रक्कासा है..।

WE SHALL FIGHT, WE SHALL WIN!

हम लड़ेंगे साथी, उदास मौसम के लिए
हम लड़ेंगे साथी, गुलाम इच्छाओं के लिए
हम चुनेंगे साथी, ज़िंदगी के टुकड़े।
हथौड़ा अब भी चलता है, उदास निहाई पर
हल की फाल अब भी चीरती है, चीखती धरती को
यह काम हमारा नहीं बनता, सवाल नाचता है।
सवाल के कन्धों पर चढ़कर
हम लड़ेंगे साथी, हम चुनेंगे जिंदगी के टुकड़े।

कत्ल हुए जज्बात की कसम खाकर
बुझी हुई नज़रों की कसम खाकर
हाथ पर पड़े गड्ढ़ों की कसम खाकर।
हम लड़ेंगे साथी
हम लड़ेंगे साथी तब तक
खिले हुए सरसों के फूल को
जब तक बोने वाले ख़ुद नहीं सूंघते
हम लड़ेंगे
जब तक कि कलम
बनियों की रखैल है।
कि दफ्तर के बाबू
जब तक लिखते हैं लहू से अक्षर
हम लड़ेंगे जब तक
दुनिया में लड़ने की जरूरत है।

जब तक बंदूक न हुई, तब तलवार होगी
जब तलवार न हुई, लड़ने की लगन होगी
लड़ने का ढंग न हुआ, लड़ने की जरूरत होगी
और हम लड़ेंगे साथी
हम लड़ेंगे
कि अब तक लड़ क्यों नहीं
हम लड़ेंगे
अपनी सज़ा कबूलने के लिए
लड़ते हुए जो मर गए
उनकी याद जिंदा रखने के लिए
हम लड़ेंगे साथी।

ये है वो बॉन्ड

ARTICLES OF AGREMENT
THESE ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT are made and executed at ----- on this the----day of------ 200—by and between :-
1. M/s ---------------a Company, registered under the Companies Act 1956 having its Head Office at--------- represented by its ----------aged about expression shall unless repugnant to the subject or context shall mean and include its successors in interest administrators assigns etc,


2 ------ S/o ---------- aged about ----- years residing at --------- hereinafter called as the Trainee– which expression shall unless or repugnant to the subject or context shall mean and include his heirs, executors, assigns and representatives etc
3 ------------- S/o ---------- aged about ----- years occupation Service, residing at ----- hereinafter called the Surety --- which expression shall unless or repugnant to the subject or context shall mean and include his heirs, executors, assigns and representatives etc..
WHEREAS the company herein is engaged, inter-alia, in the activity of collection and dissemination of news all over the world through television network etc..

AND WHEREAS the trainee having applied to the company for being imparted the required on the job training to become a qualified Copy Editor/ Reporter. AND WHEREAS the company had accepted the trainee to impart such on the job training.

AND WHEREAS the trainee, in consideration of the on the job training being sought to be imparted to him by the company, involving huge out lays of expenditure etc.. had agreed to work as Copy editor/ Reporter for the company for a continuous period of three years, including the period of training, on such terms and conditions the company prescribes.
AND WHEREAS the company herein had required the trainee to furnish such surety as is acceptable to them, to guarantee the due performance of the terms and condition contained herein by the trainee. AND WHEREAS the second party of the second part had agreed to be the surety for the due performance and observance of the terms and conditions by the trainee as herein contained, NOW THESE ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT ARE EXECUTED ON THE FOLLOWING :-

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.The trainee agrees to under go the on the job training for a period of one year from the date of his joining. . The company is at liberty to extend the said period of training by any further period. If the company deems such extension necessary.

2. The trainee shall devote his whole attention to the on the job training imparted by attending regularly. The trainee shall use best of his endeavors to imbibe all the necessary skills expected of an highly efficient and competent copy editor/reporter.
3. The trainee shall obey all the instruction issued from time to time and shall abide by the rules and regulations of the company without any deviation whatsoever.
4. The trainee shall be imparted on the job training by the company or by and other company or entity to which the services of the trainee may be assigned/ lent. In such an event , the trainee has to under go on the job training and follow the instructions issued by the new entity from time to time without any deviation.
5. the company shall periodically assess the performance of the trainee. If the company is not in any way satisfied with the performance and conduct of the trainee, the company is entitled to termination the on the job training at any time without assigning any reason whatsoever.
6. The trainee agrees and undertakes to complete the period of training, carrying out all the orders and the obligation under this agreement. The trainee undertakes to work thereafter in the company conscientiously and diligently for a continuous period for two years on such terms and conditions as are decided by the company.
7. The trainee agrees to duly execute acknowledge and deliver all agreements and/ or other documents at any time in future, as are necessary or expedient in connection with the on the job training.
8. If the trainee commits breach of any of the terms and covenants of this agreement or is found not undergoing the on the job training satisfactorily or not attending the work regularly or is found guilty of any misconduct or misbehavior or for any other reasonable cause, the company will be entitled to terminate this agreement and call upon the trainee to pay the compensation agreed herein.
9. If the trainee fails to perform any of his obligation under this agreement, the trainee agrees that he shall compensate the company as follows:-
i) a sum of Rs.1,00,000/-(Rupees one lakh only) if the trainee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the training period of one year.
ii) A sum of Rs. 75,000/- (Rupees seventy five thousand only) if the trainee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the first year of service after completion of training.
iii) A sum of Rs. 50,000/-(Rupees fifty thousand only) if the employee fails to perform his/her obligations/promises during the second year of service after completion of training.

Explanation :- Failure to perform his obligations include termination, dismissal or discharge for breach of any of the terms and conditions of this agreement or for any other reason, or breach of any of the rules and regulations of the company, absconding and resignation etc.

10. The trainee shall not be deemed to be an employee and the relationship between the company and trainee shall be that of a teacher and student but not that of master and servant.
11. It is mutually agreed and declared by the parties to this agreement that the compensation agreed to be paid as aforesaid, in the event of the various contingencies outlined therein, is just fair and reasonable having due regard to the on the job training imparted and the expenditure involved for such training ..
12. The trainee undertakes to perform and discharge his duties during the training period and thereafter with due diligence and shall not act in any manner so as to cause prejudice to the various various varied interest of the company.
13. The trainee shall not disclose any confidential that comes his notice either during the period of training or thereafter in whole or in part in any manner ton any person or persons for any purpose whatsoever. The trainee agrees to use best of his efforts to maintain all confidential information in the strictest confidence and to protect the confidentiality of all confidential information.
14. In the event any loss or damage is caused to the company by any acts and omissions of the trainee, the company shall be entitled to recover the damage so caused together with interest at 18% p.a. and cost etc. in addition to the compensation mentioned in clause No.9 above.
15. The surety undertakes to guarantee the due performance of the terms and condition contained herein by the trainee. In the event of non observance of any of the terms and condition herein by the trainee. The surety undertakes to make good the loss occasioned to the company by such acts and also undertakes to pay the amount of compensation as stated in clause No.9 above. The guarantee furnished by the surety herein shall be irrevocable and continuing and shall not be considered as wholly or partially satisfied by the payment of any money byte trainee unless the the entire amount due to the company are received. Any indulgency, waiver, neglect or forbearance of the company in enforcing the payment of any monies due from the trainee shall not in any way release or discharge the surety of his liability under this agreement. Likewise, the guarantee herein given by the surety shall not be effected by any change in the constitution of the company.
16. In the event of any dispute or difference arising under these presents, the courts of Ranga Reddy District, Andhra Pradesh, where the Head Office of the Television Division, M/S News Today Private Limited is situated and from which this agreement emanates, shall alone have jurisdiction exclusively to try the same.
17. All notices which a party is required or may desire to serve upon the other under in connection with this agreement may be served, by delivering them personally by fax, e-mail, courier or by registered post at the addresses specified above.

IN WITHNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this agreement to constitute a valid and binding agreement between them.

For M/s News Today private Limited
(television Division)
WITNESS
1.
----------------------
2. THE COMPANY
--------------------
TRAINEE
------------------
SURETY

पड़ गया है क्रांति का बीज

एक क्रांति होगी... आजादी पाने की क्रांति... अन्याय को पैदा करने वालों के खिलाफ क्रांति और अब पड़ चुकी है इसकी बीज। ये लड़ाई बैलेट और बुलेट से नहीं कानून के सहारे लड़ी जाएगी। तब तक लड़ी जाएगी जब क्रांतिवीरों के शरीर में खून का एक कतरा भी मौजूद रहेगा। खून के करते को हम यूं ही जाया भी नहीं होने देंगे। बात पते की है। ईटीवी कोई पहली कंपनी नहीं है जो बॉन्ड भरवाकर नौकरी देता है। लेकिन ये बॉन्ड एकतरफा है। लोग सवाल उठा सकते हैं कि बॉन्ड पर साइन क्यों किया। तो हमारा ये जवाब है ये कि भारत में बेरोजगारी की हालात में क्या ये मुमकिन है कि नौकरी के शुरूआत में ही बारगेन की जाए। क्या भारत में कोई ऐसी कंपनी है जो इंप्लाई से ये कहता है कि आप भी अपनी शर्तों का एक खाका तैयार करें। बेशक नहीं यहां तो आपको बॉन्ड पर साइन करना ही होता है। कम से कम नौकरीपेशा लोगों के लिए इसे समझना मुश्किल भी नहीं। पत्रकारों को बंधन में बांधना लोकतंत्र को बेड़ियों में जकड़ने के बराबर है। इस तरह के अपराध करने वालों को कड़ी से कड़ी सजा मिलनी ही चाहिए। क्रांति के बीज बोए जा चुके हैं, बिगुल बच चुका है। दोस्तों कमर कस लो जब एक राक्षस का संहार करना है। इसी ब्लॉग में बॉन्ड की एक कॉपी भी भेज रहा हूं।
आपका दोस्त
कौशल