DD Santali Channel

Proposal

Doordashan (DD) Santali, a dedicated round the clock satellite Santali TV channel

Proposed location- Dumka, the second capital town of Jharkhand

“Jharkhand Society” considers the need for DD Santali, a dedicated round the clock satellite Santali Channel to be located at Dumka. Hence, it furnishes a proposal for the same with the Government of India. The proposal can be described under the following headings:-

1.    Background

2.    Aims and objectives

3.    Benefits in Educational fields

4.    Socio-cultural benefits

5.    Economical benefits

6.    Political benefits

Background

1.    Via the 92nd Constitutional amendment 2003, Santali language was included in 8^th Schedule. Santali is spoken by Santals, other tribes such as Mahali, Paharia etc. and even by a large number of non-tribals also. Santali is a language in the Munda subfamily of Austro-Asiatic, related to Ho and Mundari. Santali language is spoken by about ten million people in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. Most of its speakers live in India, in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Bihar and Tripura.

2.    Though Santali speaking people are very large in number, the attention it required was not adequate till now. The socio- economic condition of the Santali tribes also hampers the development and promotion of their language and their socio-cultural heritage, because majority of the Santals are poor.

3.    We the Santali speaking people are thankful to the Government of West Bengal and Orissa who have given chances to Santali speaking people in the regional Doordarshan TV channels of their respective states, though the time slot is very limited, it also needs to be increased in addition to the DD Santali TV Satellite national channel.

Hence, in the direction to develop Santali language and socio-cultural heritage in a multifaceted aspect, “Jharkhand Society” proposes the establishment of a round the clock satellite dedicated Santali Tv channel of Doordarshan at Dumka, the second capital of Jharkhand. Its branch office could be established in the districts of the Indian states where Santali speaking people reside.

Aims and objectives  

1.    To protect and promote Santali language and socio-cultural heritage and create job opportunities.

2.    To enhance social bond and to fasten brotherhood among Santali speaking people as well as with non Santali speaking people.

3.    To protect the Santal and other tribal youths from the people who do not believe in democracy, but want to achieve their goal by armed revolutions.

4.    To establish our proportionate share in national socio-economic and political power by peaceful means.

Benefits in Educational fields

Opportunities in the sphere of education, particularly the competitative examinations. Agricultural programme could be broadcasted for the farmers. Students or youth can be benefited by distant learning programme for many kind of skilled works or technical works etc..

Socio-cultural benefits

1.    As a result of the installation of DD Santali Tv channel, the Santali language will get a chance to grow immensely.

2.    Santali speaking people can be in touch with the national and international news and other events or information regarding society, politics, economy, geography, health etc. from round the world in their own language.

3.    Santali speaking people, lacs in number, can feel at home who are residing outside their ancestral home or home state, in India due to the official posting in Government jobs, private jobs or any other jobs or due to any other purposes. Their children can also be benefited a lot in learning Santali language and can also get mesmerizing information about the rich Santali cultural heritage. Hence, DD Santali would definitely be a milestone achievement for the Santali people.

4.    Santali speaking people could be motivated by the good messages of the government and others for the betterment of the Santal society. Hence likely chance of growth of Santali speaking people en masse in all positive spheres.

5.    Santali speaking people can be brought to the main national stream by tuning them with the policies of the Government with the conformity of social ethos of the santals.

6.    Santali language and culture is, to a great extent, similar to the languages of Mundari, Ho, Mahali etc. Hence this reflects the prominent Jharkhandi identity. DD Santali would surely be an instrument to shine the Jhakhandi identity in the national context. At the same time it fulfills the panchseel for tribals prepared by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru which he had prepared in 1952.

7.    Development in the field of socio-economy with Jharkhandi identity. It will enhance the economical growth symbiotically with the ecology of our country.

Economical benefits

1.    The economy of Santali speaking people can be improved or it can be augmented by installing DD Santali satalite channel. Many people will get employed.  The prospective Santali TV Channel will have tremendous potential in nurturing the innate talents of the tribal youths ultimately leading to employment in various fields.

2.    The dance, drama, song competitions, serials, movies can be promoted which again will employ many people. This will lead to social growth.

3.    Employment of engineers, technicians, skilled worker, semi-skilled workers and unskilled workers would be engaged in film making, serial making or other recording of the varieties of programme. They could be non Santali speaking people also. Hence, indirectly, DD Santali will benefit people from all walks of life. When culture is promoted, when people get healthy entertainment then there will be social change in a positive direction. Peace, social harmony, progress and prosperity will reign the part of vast land mass of India where terror of red corridor is widespread.

Political benefits

The youth, who have been drifted away from main national stream, who have been trapped by the people of different philosophy and ideology, who do not believe in our democracy, who believe in armed struggle; can be safeguarded. We can defeat these people who trap our youth for armed struggle, though our youth join them only for the sake of employment. We have to introspect ourselves also. According to a rough estimate, tribal people possess 15% of the land mass of our country and that 15% of land mass has almost 100% of mineral deposit. Moreover, many large projects are located in tribal people’s land only. Then why are these people poor or underdeveloped?  It is our fault also that we had not taken care of our tribal people as they deserve to be. Hence let us be very serious in dealing with the situation. Let us not kill our own people, instead let there be development in the fields of socio- cultural, economical and political with Jharkhandi identity or with tribal identity. Let us follow the vision of our beloved leader Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru who had spelt out five principles in 1952 popularly known as the Panchsheel for Tribals as follows-

1.    Tribals should be allowed to develop according to their own genius and the State should avoid imposition but encourage their own local traditions and culture.

2.    Tribals’ rights in land and forest should be respected.

3.    Tribal teams should be trained to undertake administration and development without too many outsiders being inducted.

4.    Tribal development should be undertaken without disturbing tribal social and cultural institutions.

5.    The index of tribal development should be the quality of their life and not the money spent.

We remember our great leaders with great respect, Late Smt. Indira Gandhi jee and Late Sh. Rajeev jee also, who had immense love for Tribals. Now we have great expectations from our UPA Government. We believe that Hon’ble Smt. Sonia Gandhi jee will surely take care of the Indian tribal people and she would lead us to better, brighter and secure future.

With full confidence and belief that the proposal of the Jharkhand Society would be considered in the positive direction and the Santali people whose population  are almost one crore would get chance to view their favorite channel DD Santali round the clock very soon.

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Dr. Charles Marandi, General Secretary, Jharkhand Society, Delhi