Radio enthusiasts to distribute free sets on World Radio Day
Kolkata: Concerned over the waning interest of the young generation in radio, the West Bengal Radio Club, an organisation of ham radio enthusiasts in the state, will celebrate World Radio Day on Wednesday by seeking participants of students from various educational institutions.
"Radio is the powerful medium to reach out to masses. However, it is dying a slow death among the world of television and internet. We will celebrate the World Radio Day by distributing radio sets at free of cost among the lesser privileged sections of the society who are not privy to any medium of communication or entertainment," said Ambarish Nag Biswas, secretary of West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC).
According to Biswas, when there is a warning of a disaster and residents are shifted to a safer place from a specific area the only medium that can keep themselves connected and informed with what is happening around is a radio. The fishermen when they venture into the deep river or sea still depend on radio for weather forecast, he said.
"The young generation is not aware of the importance of the radio.
People will be sharing their experiences on how they have benefitted through the use of radio. Students of Tran Nath High School in Panihati and those lodged at Gouranga Gouriya Mission, Ghola, will be handed over radio sets," said Subir Dutta president of WBRC.
The ham radio operators from WBRC will also establish communication by ham radio between students of Tran Nath High School and another school in Chinsurah, Chandangore, in Hooghly district.
The two institutions are located on opposite sides of the river Hooghly and the students will be exchanging messages through ham radio.
The initiative by the Radio Club has been supported by 107.0 MHz FM Rainbow, All India Radio Kolkata, Indian Institute of Communication and Disaster Management (IACDM) and National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) and the approval has been given by UNESCO, which will be celebrate the World Radio Day 2019 across the world with the theme of "Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace".
