TOUCHING THE CHORD OF EVERY CITIZEN THROUGH THE RADIO

13 Feb 2018

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Radio has been one of the most powerful mediums of communication. Long before people had exposure to television sets, radio served as the most potent means of infotainment. Even with the advancement of technology and the advent of new media, radio has managed to hold on to its power and prominence. February 13 is celebrated as World Radio Day. It reminds us how incomplete the world of communication would have been without the invention of the radio. 64% of population in India listen to FM Radio every day according to AZ Research. 

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi realized the key role radio plays in disseminating information and getting public feedback in a big democracy like India. It helps in generating awareness about policies and programs of government so that the people at the bottom of the pyramid get the desired benefits. It was his out of the box thinking that made him start a radio show in an age of social media. Mann Ki Baat was conceived so that the Prime Minister could share his thoughts with people residing in the remotest parts of the country not having access to newspapers. According to a report by India Today, two-third of India's population listened to the first episode of the show making it a mega success. Reaching out to such a humongous number of people at the same time would have otherwise been a far-fetched dream without the radio set. The programme has bridged the gap between government and public, increasing accessibility of public servants and enhancing the ease of living. 

Taking inspiration from him, I have started 'Dil Se' in Madhya Pradesh. Through this radio show that is held on the 2nd Sunday of every month, I interact with the people of the state, on various issues of governance as well as learning about issues that concern them. It's a great forum to listen to suggestions and get feedback of public. Public participation is the key to effective governance and this is possible when citizens have easy access to their leaders. This radio programme has provided me with a much-needed platform to discuss about policies and programs, speak with focussed groups of people, narrate inspiring stories of individuals ultimately assisting in policy-making. Thanks to radio, today I am able to reach out to people uniformly across the state.

While radio has been a constant source of entertainment for us since its inception, let us realize how it has been a way of life for many people, especially for the ones who do not know to read and write and do not have access to television. The radio has come a long way in educating farmers about their crops, latest inventions in the world of agriculture and climatic conditions through Kisan Vani, a program started in 2004 on All India Radio. As an agrarian country, we can realize what an indispensable role it plays in our lives by keeping our food providers up to date with climate conditions, latest trends, prices, technology and best practices. 

This World Radio Day let us acknowledge the role radio has played in changing the lives of people. Let's make the most of this low-cost affordable tool of communication in all spheres of life.