New Doordarshan channel in Urdu from August 15

Announcing launch of the Urdu channel at a function here, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said this was not an ordinary decision but a significant milestone in the uplift of the Muslim community.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the Prime Minister would inaugurate the channel at a special function here.

Unveiling plans to allocate more advertisements to vernacular newspapers, Dasmunsi said, ‘‘I have raised the share from 25 per cent to 40 per cent and we are now planning to give 55 per cent government advertisements to language newspapers from 2007.’’ This was being done because ‘‘strengthening of language press means strengthening Indian democracy’’, he told a session organised by the National Urdu Media Conference.