Gangtok Doordarshan Kendra keeps distance from Sikkim

Gangtok, May 12: The 100-metre- tall tower of the Gangtok Doordarshan Kendra with misty clouds hovering over it is a feast for the eyes, but it stands out like a sore thumb as far as its services are concerned.


The Gangtok DD centre, though completed in 2004, has not been able to provide regular programmes like daily news bulletins catering to Sikkim.
Instead, the Gangtok centre airs only a half an hour round-up programme on Sikkim events three times every month and a 30-minute episode on agriculture in the state from Monday to Friday.
Apart from these programmes in Nepali, the centre is a mere transmission point to relay feeds of national DD channels.
On May 4, the lone Lok Sabha member from Sikkim, P.D. Rai of the SDF, wrote to information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni about the delay in the inauguration of the Gangtok DD centre.“It (Gangtok Doordarshan Kendra) was technically commissioned in 2004 but has never been formally inaugurated. The reason for this is that it has never been fully staffed and no programming initiated in a useful way. There is at this time wasteful expenditure on account of the assets so created but not put to use. The talent pool within Sikkim can be utilised in full together with the other North Eastern States,” said the MP in his letter.
Reminding Soni that the matter had been taken up with the Union government many times, Rai said the state government was willing to do the needful to make the DD centre fully operational.

“It may not be out of place to mention that this matter has been repeatedly taken up by our governor and chief minister. This impasse cannot be allowed to fester any longer. If there is any way in which the state government can help then it would be our pleasure to do the needful,” said the MP.
Rai is a member on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on information technology, which looks into the demands of grants of the ministries of information technology and information and broadcasting.
The BJP that has been staging dharnas in the state capital demanding the inauguration of the centre said Rs 9.88 crore had been spent to set up the facility.
The party has also submitted memorandums to the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister demanding the inauguration of the facility.
“The centre was supposed to be inaugurated in 2002. There are 31 regular employees at the centre and around Rs 2 crore is spent annually on the salaries and maintenance cost,” said state BJP president Padam Chettri.

Sikkim Governor greets Doordarshan on its 50 years celebration

Gangtok,Sep15 : Governor of Sikkim, Mr. B.P. Singh extends his warm greetings and best wishes to officers and staff of Doordarshan Kendra, Gangtok on the occasion of the Kendra’s golden jubilee celebration.
In a message, the Governor has said, “Today on this historic day of Golden Jubilee celebration, I wish to congratulate officers and staff of Doordarshan, Gangtok and extends my greetings to each and everyone associated with the organization.
I place on record our appreciation for all that our Public Service Television Broadcaster, Doordarshan has been doing over the last five decades, especially for the benefits of people living in the remote areas of our great and beautiful country.
Media, especially television, has a great role to play as our people are living at different levels of development. Information on economic strivings and social challenges concernin g education, health care and social justice need to reach the under-priviledged and marginalized sections of the people spread across the remote corners of the country. The challenges before the national broadcaster and electronic news media therefore becomes both formidable and relevant in bringing about social change.
In this context, Doordarshan has played a significant role in informing, educating and entertaining millions of our fellow countrymen who virtually do not have access to any other media channels.
With its principle of fair and balanced approach giving utmost importance to authenticity and credibility and extending its platform to all sections of social, cultural, religious and linguistic groups and minorities, Doordarshan has been showing tremendous responsibility over the last 50 years. It has also been a formidable platform for national integration and communal harmony.
The success and sustenance of Doordarshan will depend very much on people steering its course. Their professional competence, sincerity and dedication in their service in providing authentic news and views will undoubtedly place this channel on the highest pedestal of media and communication world.
I would once again like to wish Doordarshan Kendra, Gangtok as well as other Kendras all over the country grand success in their Golden Jubilee Celebrations and wish them every success in their future endeavours”. (With IPR input)