The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said the regional languages play an important role in preserving the cultural identity of different ethnicities and the need is to ensure preservation and propagation of such languages.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a function organized at Abhinav Theatre Jammu in connection with the launch of five-minute morning Gojri news bulletin to be broadcast by the Regional News Unit, Radio Kashmir Jammu.The function was organized in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages.Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali and Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, Mr Abdul Gani Kohli, MLA East Rajesh Gupta, MLA Gulabgarh Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, MLA Gool, Arnas Ajaz Khan, Director Information Dr Shahid Iqbal and former Member Parliament Talib Hussain were also present on the occasion.The launch of the morning Gojri news bulletin, to be broadcast at 10:15 am daily, has fulfilled the popular demand of the community in Jammu and Kashmir. Regional news bulletins broadcast by the news unit of the Radio Kashmir Jammu have very vast listenership and from today onwards listeners will be able to update themselves with the latest regional and national, international news in the morning in Gojri as well.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Government will also try to have a Gojri TV news Bulletin and would take up the same with the Union Government. He said the State Government would also take up the matter regarding inclusion of Gojri language in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. He said the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi is very keen to ensure the uplift of the downtrodden and weaker sections of the society and this step is an initiative taken in this regard enabling the community the access to information through their local language and dialect. While highlighting the important role played by radio in reaching out to the people in remote and backward areas of the state, Deputy Chief Minister said that launching the new bulletin will further the aim of Government of India and the State Government to bring the socio-cultural milieu of the backward communities in the limelight. He said that news in regional languages help in better penetration of Government schemes to remotest areas.Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Zulfkar Ali said that starting a news bulletin in Gojri would not only help in conserving the language, but would go a long way in its promotion among the local populace. He added, besides, the bulletin would keep the community aware with everything latest, not only in State, but in entire Country, and world.
Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, Mr. Abdul Gani Kohli while speaking on the occasion urged the Government as well as the community to proactively work towards preservation of regional languages including the distinct culture.Director (News), AIR, News Services Division, New Delhi, Shri Rajesh Jha while addressing the function expressed satisfaction that the government has been able to fulfill the long standing demand of the Gujjar community. Deputy Director, head of Regional News unit, Radio Kashmir Jammu, Miss Neha Jalali said this is another initiative of Radio News Unit to promote regional language while keeping people well informed with latest happenings in the state and around the world.Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages Dr Aziz Hajini emphasized the role of radio in providing authentic news content to the public.