BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 24th November 2023: A group of FM listeners met with the Director of All India Radio on Friday to present their six-point demands, including the relaunch of the FM channel that was shut down recently. They warned that if their demands are not met soon, they will join the larger movement that is protesting against the closure of language channels.
One of the listeners said that the FM channel was a vital source of learning and practicing their language, and that its closure would affect their linguistic and cultural identity. He said that they have joined the campaign with the aim of realizing their six-point demands, which are: The FM channel should be restarted as soon as possible; The Kokborok Ceremony, a traditional ritual of their community, should be increased in frequency and duration on the radio; The Kokborok Salkam Panda, a program that features the stories and songs of their ancestors, should be extended from two days to five days a week; and The Kokborok Ceremony should be broadcasted at 6 pm instead of 8 pm, to make it more accessible to the listeners.
The Director of All India Radio listened to their demands and assured them that he would look into the matter and try to find a solution. He said that the FM channel was closed due to technical and financial reasons, and that he would try to revive it if possible. He also said that he would consider their suggestions regarding the Kokborok programs and see if they can be accommodated.
The FM listeners expressed their hope that the Director would fulfill their demands and restore their FM channel. They said that they would continue to raise their voice until their demands are met, and that they would join the larger movement that is fighting for the preservation of language channels across the country.
