No plan to start Dogri channel: Prasar Bharati

Arteev Sharma

Tribne News Service

Jammu, January 13

Even after the lapse of more than 16 years since Dogri language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the government said it had no plan to start any exclusive Duggar channel for Jammu region having a major population of Dogri-speaking people.

“DD Jammu is a limited hour channel and it regularly produces and telecasts programme in Dogri language. DD Kashir, a channel of Doordarshan network, also produces and telecasts programme in Dogri language. At present, there is no proposal to start any 24×7 Dogri channel in P-1 (policy and coordination section) of Doordarshan Directorate for Jammu region,” the Directorate General, Doordarshan of Prasar Bharati, said.

The Directorate General Doordarshan was responding to an RTI application filed by a Jammu-based activist Rohit Choudhary, who sought information on whether the Prasar Bharati had any plan to launch Duggar channel or any Dogri channel for Jammu region.

Dogri was recognised as an official language of India by including it in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution on December 22, 2003. Since then, the people associated with the promotion of literature and culture of the region have been demanding a full-fledged 24×7 channel in Dogri language.