The Rural Programme Advisory Meeting of Farm and Home programmes in All India Radio Thiruvananthapuram was conducted on 11thJuly 2018 at MILCO, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram. This is a quarterly consultative body comprising of representatives from various Government departments, central and state organizations in Agriculture, dairy and animal husbandry and allied areas as well as NGOs, farmers, officers of All India Radio and all related persons. This meeting reviews and suggests various programmes and activities that may be taken up in Farm and Home programmes of All India Radio Thiruvananthapuram in the upcoming quarter.
This time, the RPAC meeting was an example of how All India Radio can intervene to create changes in society and the lives of people. On the basis of the discussions in Farm and Home RPAC meeting, two pro-farmer decisions were taken by the Block Panchayath of Chirayinkeezhu on two important issues faced by farmers. First was the lack of emergency medical care for cattle at night time. Second were different issues, primarily with handling bio-wastes including cow dung and urine and their management and related pollution. These issues were raised by farmers and were discussed in the RPAC meeting. Shri. R Subhash, President of Chirayinkeezhu Block Panchayath, had earlier inaugurated the RPAC meeting. Participating in the discussion, he announced at the meeting itself that the Block Panchayath will prepare and implement projects, in association with Melkadakkavoor Milk Producers' Co-operative, to handle these two important issues of farmers. Thus, the Farm and Home programme of All India Radio was able to directly intervene in a farmers' issue and initiate resolution for the same. All India Radio acted as a bridge between the masses and the authorities, thereby performing the intended role of a real Public Service Broadcaster.
The RPAC meeting was presided over by Shri. R Vimalasenan Nair, Station Director, All India Radio. The meeting was also attended by Shri. R Hali, former Director of Agriculture and Shri. R Suresh, President of Melkadakkavoor Milk Producers' Co-operative. Shri. P M Unnikrishnan Unnithan, Asst. Director (Programme) and Shri. Muraleedharan Thazhakara, Programme Executive (Farm and Home) also addressed the meeting. The meeting was attended by 45 delegates from various Government departments, and State and Central Institutions and non-governmental institutions in addition to the farmers.
Contributed by :- Shri. Sandeep Suresh. Trex. All India Radio - Thiruvananthapuram
air.sandeep@hotmail.com