Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 17: At the initiative of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, a proposal has been moved for setting up All-India Radio Station at Udhampur through Prasar Bharti. The district administration has already identified a piece of land in the city premises and the process of land acquisition will begin shortly.
Addressing the inaugural session of one-day seminar organized by “Federation of Community Radio Stations” here today, Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated Director General Prasar Bharti, Fayaz Sheheryar and Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal for earnestly following up the matter.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, Udhampur radio station will be in addition to 15 FM radio channels which were part of the union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last year. He said, out of these 15 new regional FM radio channels, 3 each have been earmarked for Kathua and Bhaderwah while other 9 for Leh, Kargil and Poonch. All these channels are to be allotted through second phase bidding, he added.
At the same time, Dr Jitendra Singh said, on the request of MLA Bhaderwah, Dilip Singh Parihar and some civil society members, a representation has been made to increase the frequency of radio transmitter of Bhaderwah radio station.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, notwithstanding the over-powering presence of television coupled with rapid mushrooming of TV channels across the country, radio still has its reach to remote and peripheral areas where television is not available, either for lack of electricity or for lack of signal. As many as nearly 15,000 Panchayats in the country today are deprived of optical fibre facility, he added. He expressed gratitude to I&B Minister Arun Jaitley for also having sanctioned 18 new FM radio channels for Northeast as well.
While complimenting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the regular monthly broadcast “Mann ki Baat” has not only contributed to an upsurge in radio listenership but has also compelled the television channels to broadcast “Mann ki Baat” live.
Member of Parliament, Santosh Ahlawat, Professor Brij Kishore Kuthiala from Mass Communication and Kamal Patel, former Madhya Pradesh Minister also spoke on the occasion.
The programme was compered by Ramesh Hangloo who owes the credit for having launched the first-ever community radio station of Jammu and Kashmir State from Jammu. Speaking on the occasion, Hangloo spoke about the need to have more of community involvement in spreading the education among the needy and causing awareness about the Modi Government’s pro-poor schemes through community radio network.
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