The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Anna FM 90.4 is one year old

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Anna FM 90.4 is one year old

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, FEB. 6. "It is a voice for the voiceless." "It is a medium that helps in linking people." "It is the first such venture to reach out to people at the grass roots level and allow them to voice their thoughts." These were some of the expressions used by speakers to describe the Anna FM 90.4 MHz, the campus community radio, which celebrated its first anniversary on Wednesday. Student radio jockeys and representatives of various organisations who partnered in providing content for the programmes shared their broadcast experiences.

While some recalled humorous moments, others spoke on their learning experience. R. Sreedher, director of the Educational Multimedia Research Centre, said that when the Anna FM was launched in February 2004, there was just a one-hour programme in hand. Now, the radio has about 1,000 hours of programmes. Apart from community development programmes, the institution has adopted a community in Kannigapuram near Velachery and has helped them earn their livelihood by making palm products.

Letters of intent

Mr. Sreedher said the Central Government had issued 50 letters of intent and granted license to 10 educational institutions to start campus community radios, but most had not been able to start operations. Anna FM had set an example for such ventures, he said.

He added that Anna University was recognised as a centre for training community radio station managers in Asia and Africa by UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning.

Student radio jockeys of Anna University, Christy and Salim, recalled their experience in anchoring a show on people's lifestyle such as those of snake charmers and poultry farm owners. Christy related her experience with gypsies, when preparing to air a show on them.

Ramesh Prabha, a media personality, gave tips to the students to improve their anchoring and news content. He appealed to the students to concentrate on programmes for rural people. While Janaki Pillai of the Ability Foundation said the programmes helped in reaching out to people about issues confronting the disability sector, Mittal from the National Institute of Visually Handicapped described the radio as a "never failing friend of the blind."

Provided platform

Commending the students' efforts, Chennai City Police Commissioner, R. Nataraj, said the Anna FM provided a platform to interact with the public.

The police cannot function in isolation and public cooperation is needed, whether in reducing traffic congestion or the crime rate.

Mr. Nataraj commended the Anna FM for looking beyond the entertainment sector and producing community based shows.

He also distributed certificates to partners of the Anna FM. Anna University Registrar, K. Jayaraman; Dean (Academics), B. Nagabhushana Rao and Susheela Balaguruswamy participated.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu