GSMC opposed to relocation of DDK – Tura

Newmai News Network
Tura | July 28

The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has written to Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday opposing the move of the Minister to shut down the Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) – Tura and relocate the same to Shillong.

The Tura DDK station is a full-fledged station in its own right with the GSMC calling the move akin to relegating the station to the status of just a program production centre.

“As per sources of DDK Tura after our discussion with the officer in charge of DDK, Tura, we learnt that the station will soon be stopping its transmission and functioning as a PPC instead,” said chairman of GSMC, Nikman Marak.

Marak added that DDK was a landmark station that catered to a wide range of people from the entire Garo Hills region.

“Besides Garos, who are the main tribe, DDK promotes the other tribes like Koch, Hajongs, Manns, Rabhas, Boros, Dalus, whose ethnicity is shown through the channel, even though the system of transmission is analogue,” added GSMC assistant general secretary, Austine Marak.

The group demanded that DDK remains where it is in Tura with the station being upgraded to a digital one instead.

“This will help us to promote our rich cultural diversity in a much richer form for all of Garo Hills,” added Nikman.