Jammu, Oct 06 (KNS): Enraged over the lackadaisical approach of the public broadcasting service, Radio Kashmir Jammu, in increasing the time slot of Gojri language news bulleting, the community has flayed the authorities and termed it “injustice”.
Gujjars and activists are saying that the Radio Kashmir Jammu station at present produces only 10 minutes evening News bulletin in 24 hours in the Gojri Language.
“This is absolutely insufficient and injustice with us. Despite our several representations to the governments, the time slot has not been increased,” the Gujjars said.
They said that the union government has sanctioned funds for the increase in the news programme, but the authorities in the Region News Unit, Radio Kashmir Jammu, are showing reluctance in allotting more air time to the news bulletin.
They said that 20 lakh Gojri speaking people in the state and nearly four lakh non-Gujjars, who speak the language, are being deprived of vital information of the happenings around the world.
“The Gojri Language is not only confined to Jammu and Kashmir but the tribal language has constituents spread in 12 other states of the country like Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Even in neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan there is a huge population of Gojri Speaking population who can listen to the news bulleting online,” said Mohammad Hussain, a Gujjar student.
Masud Choudhary, Gujjar leader and former Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, strongly supported the increasing air time slot for the programme.
Choudhary said rendering the flow of information to people is not understandable.
“The Gujjars keep on migrating even on difficult terrain. Radio is their only source of connectivity to the outer world. So, the authorities concerned must take responsibility and ensure sufficient air time on Radio Kashmir Jammu station to promote this oldest language of the sub-continent and keep the people informed,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Advocate Akram Choudhary, State Incharge of Gujjar and Bakerwal Students Welfare Association, said that it is imperative on the part of union government and ministry of information and broadcast to keep the community informed at regular interval of time.
“Therefore, the demand of additional air time at the Radio Kashmir Jammu exclusively for Gojri Language is absolutely sensible, justifiable and in national interest,” he said.
The leaders blamed in-charge Regional News Unit for the inordinate delay in starting morning news bulletin in Gojri and stressed for early airing of morning time cultural programmes besides news at Radio.
Last year during inauguration of a high frequency transmitter at Bantalab, Jammu, the Director General AIR, Fayaz Shehryar in presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh MoS PMO, had assured a deputation of nomads to allot morning news slot in Gojri language, but nothing moved till date.
Not only the Gojri Speaking but even social activists have come in open support of allotting adequate broadcast time to the Gojri programs and news bulletins at Radio.
Raman Sharma, a prominent RTI activist of the state also urged the authorities to listen the genuine demand of giving due space to the Gojri programs.
Appreciating the nationalistic approach and bravery of the Nomads, Sharma said they are our first defence at the Line of Control and International Border who are “fighting the enemy”. “Thus it becomes our collective responsibility to support the cause of promotion of this traditional language of migratory population which has vast historic importance,” he added. (KNS)