PM Modi inaugurates FM Transmitters in Nongstoin, Williamnagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 91 new 100W FM Transmitters today via video conferencing. Community Radio Stations in Meghalaya’s Nongstoin and Williamnagar are among the 91 places wherein these transmitters have been inaugurated.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a significant step in the expansion of FM services by All India Radio in the direction of becoming All India FM. He underlined that the beginning of 91 FM transmitters by All India Radio is like a present for 85 districts and 2 crore people of the nation.

In a way, the Prime Minister said, it provides a glimpse of the diversity and colours of India. He informed that the districts covered under the new 91 FM transmitters are aspirational districts and blocks, and congratulated All India Radio for the momentous achievement.

He also congratulated the citizens of the Northeast who will greatly benefit from this.

The Prime Minister underscored the emotional connection of his generation with radio. “For me, there is an added happiness that I have a relationship with radio as a host too”, the Prime Minister said referring to the upcoming 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

He said “This kind of emotional connect with the countrymen was possible only through the radio. Through this, I remained linked to the strength of the country and the collective power of the duty among the countrymen.” He elaborated on this point by giving examples of the role of the programme in initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Har Ghar Tiranga which became a people’s movement through Mann Ki Baat. “Therefore, in a way, I am part of your All India Radio Team”, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister underlined that the inauguration of 91 FM transmitters forwards the policies of the government that gives preference to the underprivileged who have been deprived of this facility so far. “Those who were considered to be distant will now get a chance to connect at a greater level”, the Prime Minister said.

Listing out the benefits of FM transmitters, the Prime Minister mentioned relaying important information on time, community building efforts, weather updates related to agricultural practices, information on food and vegetable prices for the farmers, discussions about the loss incurred by the use of chemicals in agriculture, pooling of advanced machinery for agriculture, informing women self-help groups about new market practices and assisting the entire community during times of a natural calamity. He also mentioned the infotainment value of the FM.

The Prime Minister said that the government is continuously working for the democratization of technology. “It is important that no Indian should feel scarcity of opportunity if India has to rise up to its full potential”, the Prime Minister said.

Making modern technology accessible and affordable is key to this. He explained this by mentioning optical fiber to all the villages and the cheapest data cost that has eased access to information. He said that this has given a new push to digital entrepreneurship in villages.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the tech revolution taking place in the country in the past few years has fabricated radio and especially FM in a new form. Noting the rise of the internet, the Prime Minister pointed out that radio has come to the fore in innovative ways through podcasts and online FM.

The Prime Minister touched upon the dimension of linguistic diversity and informed that FM transmission will take place in all the languages and especially in the regions with 27 dialects.

“This connectivity does not link just the tools of communications but it connects the people too. This is reflective of the work culture of this government”, said the Prime Minister highlighting the emphasis on social connectivity along with the promotion of physical connectivity.

“Our government is strengthening cultural connectivity and intellectual connectivity also”, the Prime Minister said.

Noting that tourism has got a boost after the rejuvenation of pilgrimages and religious places in different parts of the country, the Prime Minister said that the increasing number of people visiting tourist places is proof of increasing cultural connectivity in the country. He gave examples of museums related to tribal freedom fighters, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Panchteerth, PM Museum and the National War Memorial and said that such initiatives have given a new dimension to intellectual and emotional connectivity in the country.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister underlined the vision and mission of all communication channels like All India Radio and said that connectivity be it in any form, its purpose is to connect the country and its 140 crore citizens. He expressed confidence that all stakeholders will continue to move forward with this vision resulting in the strengthening of the country through continuous dialogue.

Nongstoin, Williamnagar to get new FM transmitters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 91 FM transmitters of 100 W today at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. The inauguration will give a further boost to radio connectivity in the country.

In Meghalaya, new FM transmitters will be inaugurated at Nongstoin and Williamnagar. FM Transmitter at Community Radio Station (CRS), Nongstoin would be operating on 100.1 MHz FM Band while the one at Williamnagar would be operating on 100.9 MHz FM Band. The 100W Transmitter is expected to be heard in around 400 Sq. km area delivering a bouquet of various programmes of entertainment and education to the listeners in the town and nearby villages.

An event to celebrate these occasions is being organised in the premises of CRS Nongstoin and Williamnagar. Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya will be joining these events virtually. Prominent persons of Nongstoin and Williamnagar including senior Government officers & dignitaries are likely to be physically present at Nongstoin and Williamnagar sites during the inauguration.

The government has been committed to enhance FM connectivity in the country. The 91 new 100 W FM transmitters have been installed in 84 districts across 18 States and 2 Union Territories. A special focus of this expansion has been on enhancing coverage in Aspirational Districts and in border areas. The States and UTs which are covered include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

With this expansion of AIR’s FM service, an additional 2 crore people across the country, who did-not have access to the medium, will now be covered. It will result in expansion of coverage in about 35,000 sq km area.

The Prime Minister has been a firm believer in the important role which radio plays in reaching out to the masses. To harness the unique strength of the medium to reach out to the widest possible audience, Prime Minister started Mann Ki Baat programme, which is now nearing its landmark 100th episode.

HYC seeks action against culprits involved in ‘harassment’ of church leaders

The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today demanded from the state government to take up the matter with the government of Bihar to punish those who were involved in manhandling two religious leaders from the state.

Speaking to media persons, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said that it is unacceptable for certain groups in Bihar to manhandle two religious leaders from Meghalaya as the constitution of India allows any religion to go for any religious activity.

Kharjahrin said that in Meghalaya every religion be it Christians, Hindu or Muslim has their own rights to do their own activity and nobody has ever interfered hence, the same spirit should be upheld and accepted in all parts of India.

“The constitution of India has given a religious right to all the people to go for any religious activity and there is no law yet to stop this, so we request the government of Meghalaya to pursue the matter with the government of Bihar so that those who were involved in manhandling two religious leaders from the state should be a book as per law,” said Kharjahrin.

Kharjahrin said that the HYC also demanded from the Home Ministry government of India to ensure that this should not happen in the future and it should ensure the safety and security of all religious communities across the country.

On the other hand leaders of the HYC urged that people of the state to not respond irresponsibly to such reports without knowing the full side of the story as it might lead to misunderstanding among other communities.

Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)