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Charkha has launched the first developmental Urdu feature Service on October 2, 2005, carrying writings from rural areas to the National Capital through the media. These articles will carry the voices of unheard on issues, which involve not only their trials and tribulations but also stories of their achievements and success.

Presently, Charkha has an established Feature Service in Hindi and English. In the absence of any such service available for Urdu it was decided that there is a need for a Feature Service also in Urdu. As in the case of the Hindi and English Features this will only focus on development issues of the rural and marginalized communities.

Urdu has a large readership, which is apparent by the number of prestigious Urdu dailies and periodicals published from South, West and even from the eastern regions like Siasat, Inquilab, Urdu Times, Munsif, Azad Hind, Awam, Akhbare –E- Mashriq.

Our initial finding indicates that there are several Urdu newspapers and magazines being published in Delhi, and well known among them are Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, Quami Awaz, Akhbar-E- Nau, Jadeed –in Dinon, Daily Milap, Daily Tez,Al – Yaum Daily In Dinon, Khabardar Jadeed, Daily Prtatap, Quami Aaghaz, Mashriqi Awaz, Sher-I- Punjab, Akhbare –E- Mashriq, Hind Samachar, and among the magazines are Ajkal, Khatoon- E – Mashriq, Mustaqbil, Urdu Duniya, Jehne Jadid and Karwam.

There are fair amount of rural newspapers at regional level, which are not utilizing the medium for purely developmental issues, and Charkha would like to follow its vision of being non-political, secular to provide voice to the unheard, to reach those who matter in bringing them a better quality of life.

The launch will be in stages and gradually expand to cover Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Charkha launched its Urdu Features on October 2, 2005, in rededication to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who believed and advocated peace and development. Charkha continues to strive to achieve his ideals.

For more information, contact: Asma Saleem Associate Editor; Urdu Features Charkha Development Communication Network G 15/ 11-12, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110017 Phone/ fax: 26680816, 26680688