[cr-india] MU's community radio gets bigger

[Alokesh Gupta]

MU's community radio gets bigger

Prachi RegeTuesday, May 26, 2009 1:34 IST

Mumbai: The Mumbai University is planning a major revamp of its community
radio Mumbai University Students Transmission (Must). New initiatives are
being planned, among them are an interactive session with the local
corporator and airing of street plays and dramas.
It is also planning to start networking service with police stations across
the city. A tie-up is also being planned with Jadhavpur University and
Deutsche Welle Radio. "NGOs and theatre groups will be invited to enact
plays with public interest messages. These will be aired free-of-charge,"
said Niraj Hatekar who overlooks the functioning of Must.
"Programmes that are aired by the radio service run by Jadhavpur University,
will be played on the radio. It will also be the first step in creating a
network of community radios," he added.
In fact the radio service has opened to children from nearby shanties.
"Recently HIV positive girls from the Kalina slums hosted a show narrating
their stories and how they are overcoming their difficulties," said Pankaj
Athawale who handles programming of Radio MUST.In order to stay connected
with its pool of students across the city, Mumbai University launched MUST
(Mumbai University Students Transmission) Radio service.
Set at 107.8 FM, the community radio is designed with infotainment
programmes that are aired everyday from 8 am to 9 pm in English, Hindi and
Marathi. "A Maths classroom at the university was given to us and was
converted into the studio. We broadcast to all colleges from Goregaon to
Matunga," added Athawale.
A variety of information programmes like traffic details and food reviews
are beeped at regular intervals. Lectures for vernacular students to improve
their spoken English are also aired. In addition, there are story telling
and poem reciting slots. Details about college events are also aired. "These
are also self composed songs by students and locals in all three languages,"
informed Athawale.
Radio MUST not only broadcasts the local flavour but also the international
one. "In an exchange programme deal with Radiojojo of Germany, once a week,
our shows are played in Europe and vice versa," said Athawale.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1258901

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Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi.