An organisation of the Gujjar community in Jammu and Kashmir has asked the Indian government to start Gojri news on Doordarshan in the state and increase programmes in the language on AIR.
The demand has been made by state president of Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal in a letter written to I&B Minister Parkash Javdekar today.
"We demand the Government of India to start Gojri news on Doordarshan in J&K, besides increasing duration of Gojri programmes on AIR," Poswal has said in the letter.
Poswal said Gujjars comprise nearly 20 per cent of the state's population and majority of them reside along the borders and in far-flung areas of the state.
They do not have access to other means of communication like the internet, cable and dish TV, he said.
He said Doordarshan and AIR can play a major role in communication and spreading awareness as they have a wider reach among the masses, especially in the far-flung areas.
"Therefore, Gojri news should be started on Doordarshan so that a major chunk of the population can be reached," Poswal said.
He also demanded that total duration of Gojri news on AIR being broadcast on Radio Kashmir and Radio Jammu be increased.
Saying that at present, Gojri news are being broadcast during evenings only, he demanded that the news be broadcast during morning hours also.
He said, "A major chunk of Gujjars also reside in PoK. Therefore, Gojri news on Doordarshan and its increased duration on AIR would go a long way in countering anti-India propaganda," Poswal said.
