Staff reporter
Radio Aksh, the country’s first radio channel exclusively for the blind, will be launched in the city on April 12. The channel is internet based and developed by The Blind Relief Association Nagpur (TBRAN) with Samdrushti Kshamata Vikas Avam Anusandhan Mandal (Saksham). City-based organizations working to improve the lives of visually impaired people have taken the next step in the evolving digital world to rely on technology.
To operate 24/7, Radio Aksh would have a six-hour content in the first phase which would be repeated four times during the day and thereafter the content should be increased to 24 hours, said Makrand Pandhripande, chairman of TBRAN, while addressing the media at his premises on Monday. The radio channel concept has evolved to bridge the distance as Covid-19 has provided a lesson that in such circumstances the blind have suffered setbacks. As personal contact was lost, the blind could not reach the TBRAN campus near Deekshabhoomi and hence the thought of the radio channel evolved.
Providing more details about the channel, Saksham Administrator Shirish Darvhekar explained that the Radio Aksh app can be downloaded from the Playstore. The broadcast software for the channel was provided at a nominal annual cost by Rigro Digital, a reputable company in the country. For us, the radio channel has been a smooth ride as both organizations are already in the business of producing digital content for the blind population. The internal studio already produces digital content such as educational courses and competitions. Thus, the transition to the radio channel is not so difficult and the offer would be content ranging from education
to entertainment, talk shows to provide inspirational thoughts to blind people. Spiritual thought of all religions would also be available with interviews of eminent personalities, syndicated audio movies, all types of short stories, novels, general knowledge, etc. for subscribers, Darvhekar added.
The channel’s music is also prepared by a
Aniket Bhende visually impaired and which would be broadcast after the identification of the station.
Darvhekar said in the first phase that they plan to reach the blind population of Vidarbha and subsequently Maharashtra in the coming months. The main content would be in Hindi as its reach would be maximum, but Marathi and English content is made available on the channel.
The timing of the channel would be from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and thereafter the same content would be repeated.
The channel would be inaugurated at a ceremony held on April 12 at Navdrushti Auditorium, TBRAN Campus, at 6:30 p.m. in the presence of Rahul Pande, State Information Commissioner, Nagpur, and Shridhar Gadge, Mahanagar Sah Sanghachalk, Pandhripande informed
further away. Dr Milind Hardas, Chairman, Saksham, and Nagesh Kange, Secretary, TBRAN, were also present at the press conference.
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