Bhopal, October 30 (Pervez Bari): The first Korku Community Radio station of Madhya Pradesh will go on air at Khalwa in Khandwa district. It will be run and broadcast by the tribal community in Korku dialect. The radio station has been set up by Vanya of Tribal Welfare Department.
According to Vanya’s Managing Director Mr. Shriram Tiwari Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of the community radio station at Khalwa on November 1, 2011 while Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah will be the guest of honour and Minister of State for Woman and Child Development Mrs. Ranjana Baghel will be special guest. The function will be held at 1 pm.
Two-hour programmes will be broadcast from Khalwa radio station on 90.4 MHZ within 20 to 25 kilometer radius. The locally prepared programmes will be in Korku dialect as well as Hindi. It will play an important role in spreading knowledge about government’s various welfare schemes and will also act as a bridge between the people and the government.
It is perhaps for the first time in the world that a government has decided to launch tribal community radio station with a view to ensuring their direct participation in the government. Such community radio stations will also be launched at Baiga-dominated Chada in Dindori district, Gond-dominated Chincholi in Betul district, Bhil-dominated Nalchha in Dhar district, Meghnagar in Jhabua district and Umri in Guna district. Besides, community tribal radio stations will also be launched in Saharia-dominated Sesaipur, Bharia-dominated Bijori in Chhindwara district.
Community radio station at Bhabhra in Alirajpur is already broadcasting programmes. Programmes prepared and broadcast by tribals will help ensure preservation of their culture and arts also. (pervezbari@eth.net)