CUTTACK: Ravenshaw Radio 90.4MHz, Orissa's first community radio station, will go on air from April 14, coinciding with the Oriya New Year.
The radio station, which has successfully completed over six months of dry run for around 12 hours daily, was originally scheduled to start its broadcast from April 1 on the occasion of Utkal Divas. But it had to be deferred due to some technical issues.
The dry run would continue till April 14 when it is formally launched. The regular broadcast will be from 4 pm to 7 pm on all days and the repeat broadcast from 9 am to 12 noon next day.
The radio service, one of its kind in the State, has seen participation of not only students from Ravenshaw but also from other schools and colleges of the Millennium City. Members of the local community have also been involved in the project and giving voices for different programmes that are to be broadcast through the radio service, said Dr Netajee Abhinandan, chairman of Ravenshaw Radio 90.4 MHz.
The radio service will broadcast programmes on news and current affairs, civic issues, art and music, spirituality, education and career. It would be a mix of information, education and entertainment, providing a platform to the students for giving expression to their talents and creativity.
With a state-of-the-art production set-up, including independent studio, recording, editing and storage units, the radio broadcast would reach an audience within 10 km radius of the university.
The station would air about 15 programmes in different categories. The Divine Melody programme would broadcast classical and devotional songs like 'bhajans', Odissi music, traditional Oriya songs and poetry set to music. Lectures on spirituality and classical music would also be presented. The Music Room would have modern songs by popular singers as well as in-house music recordings by up-and-coming talents and student singers.
Ravenshaw Reporter would be a weekly programme providing all university information along with campus news. Study Centre would feature curricular issues with involvement of faculty members and eminent teachers and academicians. The literati would present literary works of students and community members and the Community Centre would delve on various community issues such as education, women's empowerment, local governance and citizens rights.
The Career Concern programme would have consultants and placement experts replying to queries of students and dealing with study techniques and examination handling. Life and works of eminent personalities would be showcased in the 'Legends and Personalities' programme.