All India Radio Regional News Unit, Dharwad, which was set up after a prolonged agitation and pressure from the public, is facing the threat of closure as two senior posts here have been relocated.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued orders relocating the post of Assistant Director and News Editor. While the Assistant Director’s post has been relocated to AIR, Port Blair, the headquarter of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the News Editor’s post has been relocated to Doordarshan Kendra, Bengaluru.
Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa said that Prasar Bharati chairman Suryaprakash was expected to upgrade the news unit. But now, AIR listeners in this region are the losers, Mr. Puttappa said.
Senior writer Siddhaling Pattanshetti has termed the government’s decision as a “cultural crime”. “The Pradesh Samachar of Dharwad AIR was known for its chaste Kannada and also for its local flavour. The news unit here had provided opportunities to youngsters to participate in the news section and it was a kind of training in itself. It is sad to hear that Dharwad is losing the news unit,” Mr. Pattanshetti said.
The Dharwad news unit was set up 1981 after much public pressure. There have been reports about the closure of the news unit in the last two years and eminent persons from the region, including writers, have been opposing the decision. Now, with the government issuing orders, it is likely that the news unit will be closed down once and for all.
