New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day mention of Balochistan may or may not help the Pakistani province's struggle for autonomy but it has definitely come to the rescue of All India Radio's 42-year-old Balochi service.
According to some officials, the Prasar Bharti was in favour of shutting the one-hour short wave radio broadcast, given the logistical difficulties and costs involved in keeping it on air. The broadcast was also not reaching the targeted audience as the transmitters deployed were old and worn out. But officials say Modi's August 15 speech, in which he referred to the troubled Pakistani province, has given government officials new zeal to make its Balochi broadcast heard.
They are exploring ways to revitalise the content and take it to the intended listeners. "But, as of now, it looks difficult because we are short on both manual resources, equipment and funds," a government official said. "Those will take time to be worked out." The official said consultations will soon be held with experts.
The daily 5 pm Balochi broadcast carries news, commentary and a cultural show highlighting Baluchi culture and heritage. It is broadcast in some areas of Pakistan. The content is curated by the External Services Division of the All India Radio. Baloch students studying at the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University regularly contribute to the broadcast.
Besides Balochi, the AIR runs four broadcasts for audience in Pakistan - Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi and Urdu. It also runs a Dari and a Pashtu service for listeners in Afghanistan, a Sinhala service for those in Sri Lanka and a Burmese service for the audience in Myanmar. AIR has a Tibetan radio service. "The External Services Division mainly looks at strengthening people to people contact in neighbouring countries.
The Urdu service particularly has grown significantly. It now broadcasts all day," another government official said. This is not the first time the Naranedra Modi-led government is using radio as a diplomacy tool. In May, the Persian service of AIR launched a multimedia website and mobile app to coincide with Modi's visit to Iran.
According to some officials, the Prasar Bharti was in favour of shutting the one-hour short wave radio broadcast, given the logistical difficulties and costs involved in keeping it on air. The broadcast was also not reaching the targeted audience as the transmitters deployed were old and worn out. But officials say Modi's August 15 speech, in which he referred to the troubled Pakistani province, has given government officials new zeal to make its Balochi broadcast heard.
They are exploring ways to revitalise the content and take it to the intended listeners. "But, as of now, it looks difficult because we are short on both manual resources, equipment and funds," a government official said. "Those will take time to be worked out." The official said consultations will soon be held with experts.
The daily 5 pm Balochi broadcast carries news, commentary and a cultural show highlighting Baluchi culture and heritage. It is broadcast in some areas of Pakistan. The content is curated by the External Services Division of the All India Radio. Baloch students studying at the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University regularly contribute to the broadcast.
Besides Balochi, the AIR runs four broadcasts for audience in Pakistan - Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi and Urdu. It also runs a Dari and a Pashtu service for listeners in Afghanistan, a Sinhala service for those in Sri Lanka and a Burmese service for the audience in Myanmar. AIR has a Tibetan radio service. "The External Services Division mainly looks at strengthening people to people contact in neighbouring countries.
The Urdu service particularly has grown significantly. It now broadcasts all day," another government official said. This is not the first time the Naranedra Modi-led government is using radio as a diplomacy tool. In May, the Persian service of AIR launched a multimedia website and mobile app to coincide with Modi's visit to Iran.