Residents of Odisha Deogarh district deprived of basic radio services
By Ashok Nanda
Bhubaneswar, June 9: For more than 20 years, during the tenure of the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo, an FM radio service was inaugurated for the residents of Deogarh district. At that time, a transmitter was installed on the television tower located at Rajbati, and the Vividh Bharati programme was broadcast on 101.80 MHz with a transmission power of 100 watts.
Although this service was expected to cover an area within a radius of approximately 10 kilometers, in reality, it can only be heard clearly within about 2 kilometers. The people of the district had hoped that radio programmes would be available throughout the region. Today, many residents are not even aware that a radio station exists in Deogarh.
Geographically, Deogarh is surrounded by forests and hills. Therefore, unless a high-power transmitter is installed at a suitable location, the people of this region will continue to be deprived of radio services. Due to the distance from All India Radio Sambalpur and All India Radio Cuttack, broadcasts from these stations cannot be received clearly in the district.
Even in this modern age, many listeners in both rural and urban areas eagerly wait for radio programmes. The radio slogan, “Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya” (For the welfare and happiness of the masses), appears to have remained merely a slogan. Despite repeated reports in newspapers and discussions through television and radio media, local leaders, administrators, and governments have paid very little attention to this issue. As a result, the people of the district continue to be deprived of this basic facility.
Because of poor radio connectivity, residents are unable to benefit from valuable programmes such as the Prime Minister’s “Mann Ki Baat,” government development messages, educational broadcasts, agricultural information, weather forecasts, cultural programmes, and many other public-awareness initiatives.
If a high-power transmitter were installed at a suitable location in Deogarh district, not only the people of Deogarh but also residents of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Angul, and Dhenkanal districts could benefit. Broadcasting programmes from All India Radio Sambalpur through such a transmitter would fulfill a long-standing public aspiration, as the language and culture of Sambalpur are closely connected with those of Deogarh.
Farmers, artisans, traders, and shopkeepers could obtain valuable information at low cost through radio. In the past, the government supplied radios to schools to facilitate educational broadcasting. However, due to weak radio signals, many of these radios now remain unused in schools across the district.
While Akashvani promotes itself as a source of hope through its slogan, for the people of this district it often seems more like a source of disappointment. Since FM broadcasting provides clearer reception than MW/SW broadcasting, the government has been establishing new FM radio stations across the country. Recently, around eight such stations have been set up in Odisha. Unfortunately, the poor condition of the Deogarh radio station appears to be unknown to the authorities; otherwise, it would not have been neglected in this manner.
This situation seems like a mockery of Deogarh district. Radio is a valuable public service medium, and its importance has not diminished even in the age of advanced technology. It is ironic that Deogarh, which once pioneered hydroelectric power generation and amazed the scientific world by illuminating cities, is now struggling for access to information and basic radio services.
Being deprived of radio connectivity and access to information in the present era is both unfortunate and ironic. During natural disasters, television and print media often become inaccessible to the public, whereas radio continues to serve the people without interruption, dedicating itself to public welfare despite obstacles. In this sense, radio is truly a blessing to society.
