| News Details |
| A murder in offing | | 
By Dr Nirmal Kamal
This title is not a leaf from Agatha Christi’s detective series but the act is in process, a parting gift from loyalists of erstwhile UPA Government after humiliating defeat from public in elections-2014. Information Ministry at Delhi decided to crush the youth (who supported Modi) by strangulating breathing pipe of “Yuva-Vaani” being successfully broadcast from three Radio channels of Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar and Kolkata. Information Ministry committed this crime in broad day light not only by passing orders to stop ‘Yuva-Vaani’ channel but also shift the Transmitting Equipment from the respective ‘stations’ to Delhi instead of putting it to use for primary service which is already in dilapidated condition for shortage of funds. Reasons? - apparent last minute attempt to loot the least available or utilizing machinery for FM private partnership or else.
It must be remembered that particularly Radio Station, Jammu, had never been the priority of the Central Government. For the last three decades, very meagre amount is sanctioned for Jammu Radio Station which out reaches to far flung hilly areas of the region. For effective output, Authorities had been putting up demand for the Central Government Funds for upgrading , maintenance, other machinery and new Transmitting Equipment. Only once Jammu Radio was obliged about two decades back but this new Transmission Machinery was immediately shifted to Srinagar when Radio Station, Srinagar was blown by the militants long back. Brutal murder of “Yuva Vaani”- the only avenue to the employment starved youth will prove disastrous for the creative buddies who crave for the exposure and for whom Bolliwood is not accessible.
Jammu Radio Station had a feather in its cap when this prestigious station commissioned its broad cast channel- “Yuva Vaani”- an independent channel about 40 years back with an objective to provide a vital platform for the exposure of talented youth of Jammu. Similar channel was commissioned from Srinagar Radio Station also with the same objective. This “Yuva Vaani” service provided employment to a sizeable number of people as presenters, producers, writers and performers of the program in different formats like talks, discussions on various issues concerning youth and its role in society and performers as artists in various plays and features. Youth was in position to transform itself through various programs relayed by Yuva Vaani channel intended to reach out to the people even in far flung areas inassessible by visuals. “Yuva Vaani” has been able to sustain component culture of the State. It gave dignity to linguistic vividity. Particulary Jammu’s ‘Yuva Vaani’ service by initiating various programs in English, Panjabi, Dogri, Urdu, Kashmiri and even Gojari/Paharhi,removed the linguistic boundaries and have brought people speaking different languages together under one program. The most significant fact was the youth of the state received an impetus through these channels both in Kashmir and Jammu respectively. Their voice reached far flung areas touching chords of their concerns. “Yuva Vaani” channel also projected the cultural heritage of the region. Youth of the State found a savior in “Yuva Vaani” and for some it became a source of survival. This prestigious channel also accommodated their liberal views. With the passage of time “Yuv Vani” became heartline and hotline for budding artists who otherwise would have gone astray in the society. Even some legendaries are of opinion that many a times they were inspired from the ‘Yuva Vaani’ programs and others are definite that the programs broadcast from this channel overshadowed the programs from the Primery Channel.
One can recall that prior to “Yuv Vani,” Radio Jammu had been airing “youth program” which was a kind of starter and created creative base for “Yuva Vani” channel in 1973. Nostalgically, deep the memory lane I remember I used to edit the weekly “magazine” program under youth program. In exchange of my services a cheque of rupees 40 would do wonders to support my student life. Needless to say that I never asked any financial support from my parents onwards. There must be many like me identifying oneself with radio Jammu’s popular “Yuva Vaani”.
According to reliable sources Radio Jammu provides 500 bookings to the casual announcers and casual artists results several others supporting artists performing their respective rules. The significance of this channel can be understood form the fact that in a year, more than 2000 youth of the area, through different programs of broadcast, gets benefited. The bottom line is that this channel gave valuable regular information and guidelines about the career of the youth for the youth.
It is shocking that after such a remarkable service, on 12th of may, 2014, just when couple of days were left for the election results that DG, Prasar Bharti, issued order to snap the “Yuva Vaani” channel selectively from three states namely J&K, Delhi and West Bengal for the reasons not specified so far. This draconian order as onslaught on the talented youth, will be effective from 1st of June, 2014. Not only closure of channel but the authorities in Delhi , also decided to shift Transmission Equipment to Delhi. According to the reliable sources, snapping of this channel will save only Rs 4.5 lacs. Can a successful program be snapped to save meagre amount of Rs 4.5 lacs? Moreover, business ethics do not permit closure of a running business establishment. Only a sick establishment should be closed if cannot be cured.
This news has created resentment and shocking ripples in the society of Intellectuals and even the staff of respective Radio stations. After listening to the shocking news, the author of this article contacted Director of Radio Station Jammu who informed that he is simply carrying out the orders received from Director General Prasar Bharti and also revealed that he was not consulted on the decision affecting youth who has been contributing through this channel. It appears that
It is very well known to all and sundry that the Government of state of J&K has always remained unconcerned towards unemployed youth of the state. Particularly the field of performing arts has remained totally neglected and no visionary has so far initiated any firm action to accommodate this neglected section of the youth who is bubbling with talent for exposure. Few years back, University of Jammu had taken initiative to start a school of performing arts on the lines of Pune Institute and other prestigious institutes but the proposal was thrown in cold storage even after the university council had given initial consent. Besides this every now and then youth is showered with praises whenever any cultural activity takes place and those who matter enjoy the program and shower momentary compliments to the artists leaving them to struggle on their own without any concrete commitment for the future.
The decision to close this channel, a breather to the youth, is certainly a political consipiracy. While the new Government is in formation, spurious seeds are being sown to create problems for the new Government. By looting transmission equipment from three Stations, FM service in Delhi will be improved-is a silly argument being given by the office of DG,Prasaar Bharti. In fact entire shady act sounds a planned last minute loot by henchmen of the outgoing bosses in the Information Ministry. This murder in the offing should be stopped.
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the scoopnews.in)
Editor, Scoop News
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