The Bhasha Shahid Station Shahid Smaran Samiti, Silchar, has expressed deep concern over the prolonged deterioration of Doordarshan Kendra Silchar and urged the Centre to immediately revive and modernise the only Doordarshan station serving the Barak Valley.
In a statement, the organisation said the continued neglect of the public broadcaster was regrettable and called for comprehensive renovation and technological upgradation of the station. It said the centre plays a vital role in promoting the language, culture and traditions of more than four million people belonging to diverse communities in the Barak Valley.
The organisation pointed out that local news bulletins, once an important feature of the station, have remained discontinued for a long time. It added that local programming on Doordarshan has historically served as a significant platform for preserving and promoting the region’s rich cultural heritage.
According to the committee, Doordarshan Kendra Silchar began operations in 1984 with a low-power transmitter and was later upgraded to a high-power transmitter, enabling nearly three-and-a-half hours of local programming every day. However, all local broadcasts were discontinued on October 13, 2021.
The organisation said that in the present era of advanced information technology, the station should be modernised and equipped with satellite-based broadcasting facilities to meet contemporary requirements.
The committee also alleged that the station currently has only around 40 per cent of its sanctioned workforce, claiming that vacant posts have remained unfilled. It demanded the immediate recruitment of suitable personnel to restore the station’s functioning.
Welcoming the recent initiative taken by Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha for the revival of the station, the organisation noted that the MP had submitted a detailed proposal before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology on June 17, seeking the development of Doordarshan Kendra Silchar.
The committee further stated that on July 7, Purkayastha wrote to Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer Rajiv Kumar Jain, urging immediate steps to revive and strengthen the broadcaster.
The Bhasha Shahid Station Shahid Smaran Samiti said it hopes the Centre and Prasar Bharati will take prompt action to restore the station and ensure that it continues to serve as an important platform for the Barak Valley’s cultural and linguistic identity.
