GUWAHATI: Akashvani Dibrugarh, one of the 27 All India Radio (AIR) stations in the Northeast, can take pride in success against the odds.The genesis of the radio station goes back to the post India-China War times, when the facility was established to counter Chinese waves from high-frequency transmitters across the international border. Having battled manpower crunch, for almost 50 years now, the most remarkable feat during difficulty is that it has been able to strike an "emotional" chord with not just the people of Upper Assam but of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland as well. Currently, it has a little over 60 people working in different departments, including engineering and administrative departments. Sources say that it is understaffed by about 50 per cent.
"Yes, manpower wise, we are battling a crunch. But as far as our programmes are concerned, we are right up where we should be, thanks to the dedication of our staff. The golden jubilee year celebration started from February this year and we have set a target of transmitting 3000 new innovative programme, and some of them have already become popular in not just Assam, but also in Arunachal and Nagaland. So, yes, in a way, we have been able to cross boundaries," Lohit Deka, the programme head of AIR, Dibrugarh, told The Shillong Times. The radio station, which is now fully digital, caters to over one crore listeners in Eastern Assam and parts of Arunachal and Nagaland."The involvement of people has been impressive too. There is a section who regularly takes part in our programmes. Others are regular listeners. The feedback, either through letters or through posts on our Facebook page has been great," Deka said.
As a matter of fact, a 25-minute programme – Akashbani Dibrugarh Aru Moi – which is basically a public interface programme transmitted once a week, is among the most popular of them all."People from as far as Pasighat and Itanagar have communicated to us about the popularity of the programme. Most people in Arunachal Pradesh understand and can speak Assamese. So the connect has been great so far," he said.AIR Dibrugarh has a daily transmission time of 16 hours. Progammes are transmitted in 12 languages and dialects. They are Assamese, English, Hindi, Mising Deori, Singpho besides dialects of six indigenous groups of Arunachal Pradesh.
The radio station has lived up to its aim of promoting culture and heritage as well.
"AIR Dibrugarh has been promoting folk music for the past three years through a special programme, Lok Sangeet Madhuri, which is the first radio reality show on folk music. We have transmitted programmes on Kamrupi Lokageet, which has been a tremendous success in terms of public response. In Meghalaya too, AIR has undertaken similar programmes," Deka said.
Contributed by:-Shri.Jhavendra Kumar Dhruw ,jhavendra.dhruw@gmail.com
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