The Hindu Business Line : Abid Ali Khan Trust gets licence to set up community radio station

The city-based Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust, which is into promoting Urdu and providing vocational education to weaker sections, will set up a community radio station (CRS), in the next three months.

The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has signed a grant of permission agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating the CRS at the Trust. A letter of intent has also been issued after an inter-ministerial committee nod and requisite clearances.

This will be the 50th CRS in the country, according to an official release.

The medium of radio would be effective in reaching out to communities, especially the poorer sections, literally challenged and socially underprivileged, said Mr Zaheer Ali Khan, Secretary of the Trust.

Telugu programmes

The Trust, named after Mr Abid Ali Khan, the founder-editor of the ‘Siasat’, Urdu daily, proposes to use the CRS to address issues concerning the community through a participatory approach. It is planned to also have Telugu programmes, so that a wider audience can be reached and the Urdu speaking can also learn the language, he told Business Line.

The Abid Ali Khan Trust has been operating for 15 years, providing free education and vocational training in the fields of journalism computers, tailoring, embroidery etc.

A major achievement has been the promotion of Urdu in schools, especially the slum areas. About 11 lakh people, both children and adults, have been covered over the years. Recently, call centre training has also been launched with encouraging placements, Mr Zaheer explained.

More Stories on : Radio/TV | Education | Linguistics | Andhra Pradesh

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