Silchar |  Calling for the revival of one of southern Assam’s most significant public broadcasting institutions, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha has urged Prasar Bharati to restore the infrastructure, regional programming and local identity of the Silchar Doordarshan Kendra.

The demand was raised during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology in New Delhi on Wednesday, where Purkayastha submitted a memorandum outlining measures to strengthen public broadcasting services across the Northeast, with special emphasis on the Barak Valley.

The MP also held discussions with Rajeev Kumar Jain, seeking immediate attention to the issues affecting the Silchar centre and broader broadcasting infrastructure in the region.

“I have been assured by the Director General of Prasar Bharati that concerns relating to the Silchar Doordarshan Kendra, along with initiatives to strengthen public broadcasting in the Northeast, will be addressed on a priority basis,” Purkayastha said.

Expressing concern over the gradual decline of the centre’s role and autonomy, Purkayastha said the broadcaster had once served as a vital platform for reflecting the culture, language and aspirations of the Barak Valley and southern Assam.

“The Silchar Doordarshan Kendra was not merely a broadcasting station; it was the voice of the Barak Valley and southern Assam. A centre established to represent the life, language and culture of the region should not be reduced to a passive unit. It must regain its production capabilities, regional programming and distinct local identity,” he said.

Established in 1990 at Tarapur in Silchar, the Doordarshan Kendra played a significant role in promoting regional languages, local culture and community issues. Over the years, it produced and telecast programmes in Bengali, Manipuri, tea tribe languages and other regional formats, serving an estimated audience of nearly 50 lakh people across the Barak Valley and adjoining areas.

At present, content linked to the Silchar centre is routed through the Guwahati Kendra, a development that many in the region believe has diminished local representation in public broadcasting.

A major demand placed before Prasar Bharati was the restoration of the Bengali news bulletin that was once broadcast from Silchar. Purkayastha described the bulletin as an important cultural and emotional link for the people of the Barak Valley.

“The Bengali news bulletin from Silchar occupied a special place in the hearts of the people. Its revival is not simply a technical issue; it is closely tied to the cultural identity and aspirations of the Barak Valley,” he said.

The MP noted that the initiative was closely associated with the efforts of his late father, Kabindra Purkayastha, who had played a key role in promoting regional broadcasting services in the area.

In addition to the revival of the Silchar Doordarshan Kendra, Purkayastha proposed the modernisation of Doordarshan and Akashvani infrastructure in remote and border regions of the Northeast. He argued that stronger public broadcasting networks would improve access to information, promote regional languages and cultures, and strengthen connectivity in strategically important areas.

The proposals come amid growing calls from civil society groups and cultural organisations in the Barak Valley for greater regional representation in public media and the restoration of locally produced content that reflects the unique linguistic and cultural character of southern Assam.