11th Feb 2019 11:02:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

With the launch of DD Arun Prabha by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week , a long cherished dream of Arunachal Pradesh has finally been fulfilled.It will be a 24x7 satellite television channel, the first for our state and second for the Northeastern region after DD North East.
The technical attributes are expected to be sound with state of the art facilities, including a digital satellite news gathering unit to provide seamless live coverage from the remotest of locations. Also Arun Prabha will be linked to various private Dish TV platforms, ensuring that viewers across the globe get to learn about the Land of the Rising Sun. 
But that’s not the only reason for our contentment. That it has undergone phases of delays and missed several deadlines for launch and finally seen the light of the day is no doubt a sigh of relief for any common man in this part of the nation, where delay of projects and sometimes evaporation of them is no uncommon.
In general it is perceived that media, particularly the television media are considered as the catalysts of change and development, and expected to accelerate the process of social welfare and empowerment of all and in the process create informed citizenry.That the media is a friend and voice of the masses, an instrument for creating pressure on the system to work constantly for people‘s welfare and provide communication functionality between all stakeholders of development vis-a-vis government, local leadership & population, are all very true. But sadly, content of the mainstream mass media being primarily market driven, is unable to gratify the communication need of the marginalized people. It is here the significance of Arun Prabha lies.
Now that we have a new member in our family, it will be apt to audit the ground reality. Truth is always bitter, but will it be an overstatement to say that the country’s mainstream media has hitherto , over the decades paid scanty attention to Northeast. Has it not been that this part of our nation has been subjected to alienation not only by the rest of the country but by media also? The mainland media’s vision regarding Northeast inclusive of Arunachal Pradesh is myopic to say the least. It’s only when there is a huge chaos involving indefinite bandhs , large scale violence or any wrong reason whatsoever we come visible in national media radar. 
With thus the reality, DD Arun Prabha may be an welcome relief from this sunken feeling generated out of consistent disregard. Now that we have something exclusively for us and by us, it’s time to broadcast that there is a whole lot beyond the preconceived notion of ‘Northeast chaos’,which is majestically rich and enchantingly beautiful. 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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