By Sunainaa Chadha for Firstpost

No Whatsapp or mobile calls,  landline calls only please. The DNA newspaper maybe reworking its digital strategy but it has a unique strategy for boosting productivity.

Owned by by Diligent Media Corporation, an Essel Group company, the Mumbai-headquartered newspaper has implemented a 'No mobile policy' in its Mumbai and Thane offices. Employees have been instructed to surrender phones to the security, and the staff has been asked to use landlines to get in touch with sources and contacts for stories.

According to a report in the News Minute, the editorial team did object but the management brushed off their concerns.

The decision comes months after employees at the newspaper’s sister concern, Zee Entertainment were faced with a similar situation after the organisation banned cell phones in April 2015. The move is being cited as one to improve productivity.

DNA employees, including reporters, were even asked to  ensure call forwarding from their mobile phones to their respective landline extensions, sync their contacts on Gmail or store all contacts on the landline system as alternatives.

"Either transfer all calls landline or upload contacts on to Google/Gmail. If you want to use your phone, you aren't even allowed to use the lobby area. One has to go out of the office, much like smokers, to do so," a DNA staffer told Firstposton condition of anonymity.