Srinagar, Jun 22: Governor Satya Pal Malik said Saturday efforts were on to open a multiplex in the Valley in order to provide an avenue for the entertainment-starved people here.
“I regret that there is nothing to do in Kashmir after 6 pm. Cinema halls are closed for decades now, coffee-house licence will take four years to get. There is no place where you can go,” Malik said at a function to launch Doordarshan’s free Dish TV in Kashmir.
“The people here are so lively that on holidays they will go to fields and parks to have their lunch there. We have not been able to give them any avenue of entertainment,” the Governor said.
“Now we are trying to set up a multiplex. There is friend who is determined to establish a multiplex (in Kashmir).”
Cinema halls in Kashmir were closed down in 1989 by militant groups at the time of the eruption of insurgency. Efforts were made to revive some of the halls, but had to be closed again due to grenade attacks by militants.
Malik said Doordarshan had fulfilled the need for “credible” news and information in a place like Kashmir where “rumours become the news”.
“There are so many rumours here that it takes three days to put them to rest. They become news,” he said. “So a medium that is credible, believable and with wide reach was needed. You’ve done that.”
The Governor said while there were many traditional forms of entertainment in villages, there were no such things in cities. “They are dependent on TV and radio for entertainment, and DD Kashir has addressed this problem to a large extent here,” he added.
On the occasion Governor Satya Pal Malik distributed DD Free Dish set-top boxes among identified beneficiaries. A total of 30,000 DD Free Dish set-top boxes are being distributed by Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the state.
During his address, Governor congratulated the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for taking the initiative of reaching out to the people through Free Dish receivers.
Governor observed that the today’s event marks a significant milestone for making a head-start towards achieving the goal of reaching out to the people living in the far-flung and border areas through the platform of DD Free Dish. He said that through these set top boxes, authentic information will be disseminated to the border residents where connectivity has always remained an issue.
Governor observed that Doordarshan has truly lived up to the responsibility bestowed upon it and the Kendra at Srinagar has been performing its duties despite many challenges. It is playing an important role by representing the local culture through its programmes and reaching the people with unbiased information, he added.
Governor noted that DD Kashir has become popular in the state because of its good content and adding programmes in Dogri and Ladakhi languages will strengthen the composite culture of the state.
Underscoring the importance of public outreach, Governor appreciated the officers of the State administration for reaching out to the rural population through the “Back to Village” programme.
