[cr-india] Pune varsity gets ready to go radio ga ga

[Alokesh Gupta]

Pune varsity gets ready to go radio ga ga
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Devraj Dasgupta
Pune, January 27: One of the first universities in the country to seek
government permission for starting a Community Radio Station, the University
of Pune (UoP's) plans got a fresh lease of life last week when the NoC (no
objection-certificate) arrived from the Union Human Resources Development
(HRD) ministry. This paves the way for the proposal to be forwarded to the
Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry for a licence.
The NoC, which was received on January 17 after scrutiny by a team of
experts, means the university can now hope to start the station before the
next academic session.
Though it all seems smooth, there have been unexpected hiccups. The
university had to re-apply to the HRD ministry in January though the
original proposal was sent way back in April 2003. In fact, the HRD ministry
had issued a clearance on July 24. But the university had to go through the
rigmarole of applying afresh for reasons best known to the HRD ministry
(read lost papers).
However, this time, the university has hired the services of Broadcast
Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a government undertaking
based in Delhi, to push its case for a license soon. ''The BECIL has also
been asked to set up the studio, erect towers, provide training to the
staff, commission equipment besides lobby for our license,'' added Dr K R
Sanap, head of the university's Communication Studies department.
Understandably, Vice-Chancellor Dr Ashok Kolaskar didn't seem particularly
happy with the pace of events. ''We are just waiting for clearance from the
I&B ministry, our side is ready,'' he said. Once the ministry allots the
dedicated frequency band, the university, operations of the radio station
should start within a month, he promised. The university has already
sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the project aimed at students, parents and the
public alike.
As for programming, it will mainly be educational and information-based.
Right from lectures by experts to general information about the credits
system in campus courses, every kind of students' need would be fulfilled.
For now, the station will broadcast programmes within a radius of eight
kilometres and it will also have phone-ins to make it interactive.
Importantly, Dr Kolaskar said the university's endeavour would be to
increase the coverage area of the radio station conically in the direction
of education institutions rather than residential or commercial areas.
(expressindia.com)

Regds,
Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi, India.



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