New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS): Taking its endeavour to provide qualitative edutainment to its listeners, All India Radio Tuesday announced the launch of its new serial "Priya", which aims to spread the message of women empowerment, as well as educate rural masses about various government welfare schemes they can avail.

"Priya" is a story of a poor but courageous young woman who fights against all odds to get educated and create awareness and progress in her village.

"It is a story of a young girl who grows up to be a well-aware citizen and aims to illuminate her village using non-conventional energy through wind power. How this girl fights all evils and creates awareness for the villagers, forms the story," Laxmi Shankar Bajpai, deputy director general, All India Radio Delhi, told reporters here.

"Priya" delves on the grit and determination of a poor father-less girl, who struggles to make her dream come true. Her will to study motivates her enough to trudge eight miles to school everyday as she resides in a neglected village where basic amenities like school, hospital and electricity are not available.

The protagonist treads through a journey strewn with hardships to reach her goal.

Important contemporary subjects touched upon in the serial are women raising their voice against molestation, indecent behaviour and injustice, teaching such elements a lesson, as well as the importance of unity and communal harmony in the nation's progress, said Bajpai.

A run of 12 episodes has been planned for the show, and depending on the response, it may be extended.

It will be broadcast every Thursday starting Aug 8 from Vividh Bharati MW 219.3 mtr. i.e. 1368 KHz, and every Friday starting Aug 9 on FM (Gold) 106.4 MHz, on FM (Rainbow) 102.6 MHz, and also on Indraprastha Channel MW 366.3 mtr.

To expand the reach of the message-based show, "Priya" will also be translated into 22 regional languages for pan-India listeners.