31st was just 8 days away. That's really sudden. Then the rest of the news started coming in. The depeartment I was working for is decentralizing. In other words, the service we were providing for overseas channels is going to be provided back in the respective channels' countries. (That's the reason why I'm in Mumbai too.)

So within the next 6 to 9 months, people are going to lose their jobs. Out of the 14 permanent staff, only 4 will be selected to stay with the Asia channel to do what they are doing now. The cutting down of staff has been expected for months but we didn't expect it to be so soon.

It doesn't really affect me since I have long known that my contract was ending but I find it really sad that so many people are going to lose their jobs. Having been part of the process of decentralization and localization, I find it all a stupid move. The person in charge of this whole project does not even know what goes on in the department. How can he determine that this is a worthwhile move?