The Fact News Service
Amritsar, May 31
There has been no change in Punjabi bulletins broadcast by Akashvani. The shifting of the bulletins was merely a technical step. This was stated by Professor Dr.Sarabjeet Singh, Prof. Dr. Sarabjeeet Singh State Co-Convenor BJP, Intellectual Cell.
This statement comes following reports that Akashvani has suspended the broadcast of Punjabi news bulletins from Chandigarh and Delhi after the shifting of its production staff to Jalandhar.
“National Service Division (NSD) Akashvani never had any RNU (Regional News Unit) in the state of Punjab. Only one IIS post was given to Akashvani Jalandhar. Strategic ally Jalandhar is an important city of Punjab being in the vicinity of the international border. Akashavani Jalandhar is a very old station that is technically equipped to the extent that the bulletins from Chandigarh were broadcast from Jalandhar on Primary channels across the state.
The two Punjabi bulletins were read at RNU Chandigarh but used to go to Jalandhar through territorial line for broadcast (through dedicated phone lines) which used to affect its quality,” informed Professor Dr.Sarabjeet Singh.
“Even the two Hindi bulletins prepared and read at RNU Chandigarh go to the state of Haryana from Rohtak. NSD does not have any RNU in Haryana too. While Doordarshan News has its RNU in Jalandhar.RNU Chandigarh was facing a manpower crisis. Due to a lack of adequate manpower, RNU was asking for an extension of duties of casual staff from 6 to 15 frequently which is quite difficult in the TBS system (Talent Booking System),” he added.
The BJP leader also stated the reasons for shifting Punjabi News Bulletins to Jalandhar:
1. Better Quality of broadcast
2. Better technical infrastructure
3. Larger Punjabi resource person pool
4. Reducing the dependency on Casual staff & reducing expenditure.
5. More Efficient usage of Punjabi knowing human resources
6. To counter cross-border propaganda through External Service broadcasts.
He further shared that at present, RNU Jalandhar is broadcasting five Punjabi bulletins and Four FMHLs in a day.
“Two bulletins shifted from Chandigarh were used to broadcast on the Primary channel, FM of Chandigarh. Now they are on Primary channel FMchannels of Chandigarh and Jalandhar. Three bulletins of NSD were earlier on the Primary Channel and Indraprastha channel of Delhi while now they are going on the Primary Channel, Indraprastha, and FM Channels of Jalandhar. There is no change in the broadcast of these Punjabi bulletins -timing, duration, frequency- all are as they were.
The shifting of the bulletins was merely a technical step to optimize the use of available resources scattered at different places in the form. of manpower and Technical setups. It has not affected the accessibility and status of these Bulletins. It has further enhanced the reach of Punjabi bulletins after being shifted to RNU Jalandhar,” he added.
