*World looking at India as global power of tomorrow
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 19: A stage has finally been set for countering anti-India propaganda of Pakistan in most effective manner as Radio Kashmir Jammu today received new European technology based high-frequency transmitter, which will penetrate up to 60 kilometers inside the territory of the hostile neighbor.
This 300 KW Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) was inaugurated by Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, DoPT and North-Eastern Region (with independent charge), Dr Jitendra Singh at Radio Kashmir Jammu’s High Power Transmitters Complex at Bantalab in the outskirts of Jammu city.
The old 300 MW transmitter operating on 990 kHz frequency was taken into service on March 22, 1990 and as this transmitter had already served its useful life and considering the worldwide trend in adaptation of digital broadcast equipment, it was decided in 11th Plan to replace this transmitter by a new 300 MW DRM Transmitter.
The DRM is a trade mark of DRM Consortium and it was originally developed in Europe. The new transmitter will cover about 90-100 kilometers radius around Jammu and adjoining parts of Pakistan. It will provide coverage to about 175 kilometers of India-Pakistan border area and penetrate up to 60 kilometers inside the territory of hostile neighbor, which always try to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir by resorting to anti-India propaganda through radio and television.
This transmitter will cater programmes based on entertainment, education and news on both sides of the border areas of this region, Dr Jitendra Singh said while interacting with the media-persons on the sidelines of the inaugural function.
“Definitely this transmitter will help in countering of Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda more effectively because of its range”, the Union Minister said while describing the transmitter as a new milestone in the history of Radio Kashmir Jammu.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, even the first Radio Station was established on December 1, 1947 with 1 KW Medium Wave Collin 20T Transmitter in most urgency in order to counter the Pakistan propaganda at a time when Kabalis raided the Kashmir”, Dr Jitendra said, adding “since then Radio Kashmir Jammu is playing effective role in conducting programmes to counter the misleading propaganda of our hostile neighbor”.
In Jammu and Kashmir there are 24 All India Radio stations having 38 transmitters, which provide coverage to 99% of the population of the State and reaches 51% of the area.
In response to a question, Dr Jitendra Singh said that before Kargil and after Kargil India always enjoyed upper hand over Pakistan at the international level. “At present, India’s position is emerging more stronger as wherever Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is going he is receiving overwhelming response”, he further said.
“This response is testimony to the fact that entire world is looking at India as global power of tomorrow and that is beyond any doubt now”, the Union Minister said.
About denial of permission to hardcore separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani to visit abroad, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “Ministry of External Affairs will take call on this issue….I am not in a position to give verdict on this”. He, however, said, “there is a mechanism in the country to deal with such issues and Ministry of External Affairs will decide depending upon the facts and figures”.
Earlier, while addressing the inaugural function of 300 KW Transmitter, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled his association with Radio and quoted some interested instances. He said that present Government at Centre has revived the Radio by launching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” Programme.
Extending gratitude to Union Finance and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Arun Jaitley for being generous towards Jammu and Kashmir and sanctioning 15 FM channels, the Union Minister in PMO said that process for auction of these FM channels will begin shortly.
“The Regional Language FM Channels will further revive Radio”, he said and stressed that awareness about revolutionary schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi like Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana should be generated through Radio so that large number of people can obtain benefit of the same because Radio has a range where Television cannot reach.
Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Director General All India Radio F Sheharyar, several top officers of AIR from Union Capital and Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu, V K Sambyal were among those present on the occasion.
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