Udupi: Coastal Region to Get Its First Community Radio Station Soon

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
By Rahul Kumar, Manipal

Udupi, Apr 30: If everything works out as planned by the Manipal University, this coastal region including the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district will get its first community radio station very soon.

Radio listeners in the radius of five to ten kilometers from Manipal then can tune in to 90.4 MHZ frequency and listen to programmes which will be of immediate relevance to their society. The community radio station will be established at Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) and the area which will come under its transmission coverage includes Udupi, Herga, Hiriyadka, Atrady, Alevooru, Katpady, Malpe and others.

Kushal Kumar, Incharge of the CR looking at the progress of the work

Shyam Bhat introducing students to the basics of community radio

“On Air studio is being constructed and we have got the transmitters and other necessary equipments. We hope by the end of May or beginning of the June month the station will start functioning” informs K Shyam Bhat, a guest lecturer in MIC and the coordinator of the community radio station. He was working in AIR from 1980 to 2007 at different places of this region including Hassan, Mangalore, Madikeri and others as programme producer and executive.

“Initially the programmes will be broadcast in the evening from six to nine but in future depending upon its popularity it may be stretched to morning also. The first two hours will be dedicated to the local rural communities while the duration between eight and nine pm will be for the students. Programmes will be broadcast in different languages including Konkani, Tulu, English and Hindi but maximum importance will be given to kannada being the most spoken language of this region,” Bhat added further.

Programmes will highlight mainly the areas relating social and environment problems and economic activities. Besides, station will also broadcast programmes for promotion of folk, yakshagana and other forms of art. Also this will provide a platform for the upcoming artists and talents of this coastal region. Schedules of programmes like Arogya Bhagya (health care programme), Vikasa (programme on developments), Vihara (programme on places of tourism importance), Krishi Loka (programme for farmers), Dikku Dese (programme for students), kadalathadi (programme for fishermen) and many others have already been decided.

“Journalism and communication students of MIC are also going to benefit from this venture. Their talent will be utilised in the designing, planning and production processes. This will be like a great experience for them that will help in their future. Though our first priority will be to get more and more local people involved with community radio,” said Buroshiva Das Gupta, director, MIC.