Koraput: The nearly six-decade-old All India Radio (AIR) station in Jeypore is struggling with staff crunch.

Sources said eight out of the nine sanctioned posts of instrumentalists, and two sanctioned posts - each of composer and assistant station director - had been lying vacant for long.

Similarly, there are only two programme executives against the sanctioned eight, while posts of the 14 transmission executives are lying vacant. To make matters worse, the station doesn't even have a director. "The radio station in Jeypore is a source of pride for the region. Rural masses are seen heavily reliant on radio for information as it broadcasts several programmes in local tribal languages," said activist Sanjit Patnaik.

The AIR's head of programme in Jeypore, Jugal Kishore Panda, remains optimistic. "Though there is shortage of staff members, we are still preparing and broadcasting new programmes for our listeners. We are trying to maintain the name and fame of the station, which has owned over 50 Akashvani Annual Awards, with the resources available," he said.

Panda said the station prepared programmes and took part in 11 Akashvani Annual Awards categories this year.

The four studios of the station were recently converted to digital, while upgrade of the Medium Wave transmitter is ongoing.