Language press share in govt. ads to be raised to 50 pc in 2007

Varanasi, Sep 17 (UNI) Emphasising the need for development of vernacular or language journalism in the country, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi today said the share of vernacular newspapers in government advertisements would be raised from the present 40 per cent to 50 per cent in 2007.

Addressing a programme organised by Purvanchal Patrakar Sangh at the Mahatama Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith here, Mr Dasmunsi said growth of vernacular media was a necessity for a linguistically diversified nation like India.

''It is during the UPA government at the centre that vernacular media's share in government advertisments was raised from 25 per cent to 40 per cent. We target to raise it to 50 per cent in 2007,'' Mr Dasmunsi added.

Also the union minister for parliamentary affairs, Mr Dasmunsi stated that the language or vernacular press played a pivotal role in not only highlighting development at the grass root levels, but also in exposing scams at the district and block levels.

''Language press needs to be promoted and journalists from block and district level will be inivited at a national conference next year in New Delhi to provide suggestions and air their grievances,'' he added.

On the freedom of press, Mr Dasmunsi said that it was being imperilled by the newspaper management and not the state. ''It is the management that impedes the freedom of press and not the government,'' he averred.

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