Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated 91 new 100W FM (Frequency Modulation) transmitters via video conferencing, including Community Radio Stations (CRSs) in Meghalaya’s Nongstoin and Williamnagar with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also attending the virtual inauguration.
The FM transmitter at CRS, Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills District would be operating on 100.1 megahertz FM band, while that at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district would be available on 100.9 megahertz FM band.
“This is a major leap in radio connectivity in the country covering an additional 2 Crore people in
18 States and 2 UTs. Privileged that Meghalaya is one of the states covered through this launch. Congratulations and best wishes to AIR FM team,” the Chief Minister tweeted. In his address, the Prime Minister said, “In a way, 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. Modi also congratulated the citizens of the Northeast who will “greatly benefit” from this.
He 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.
“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 said and 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”, Modi underscored.
He 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”, he 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 and said that the government is continuously working for the democratization of technology.
The PM 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.
