The voice of hundreds of Delhi University student lost connection on Friday as the Delhi University Community Radio (DUCR) buzzed for the last time. Though the varsity did not officially announce the closure of the community radio but the ‘in-charge of DU Radio’ directed the members of DUCR to pack their bags and leave.
DUCR 90.4 MHz was started under former Chancellor Deepak Pental and was inaugurated by the former Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal in 2007. More than 1,000 students coming from different colleges of DU were associated with as volunteers.
Though its reach was not as big as compared to the other radio stations but with a 50 watt transmitter within a 13 km radius it became a stepping stone for thousands of students to have career in broadcasting. The students created discussion programme on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat to gender issues, legal and LGBTQ.
However, assistant consultant of DUCR Issac John, said “The infrastructural status of the station has become very poor and also the instruments such as transmitter, headphone and laptops were beyond repair. Students used to come from very far and enthusiastically participated through broadcasting programmes on internet link and DUCR application. Even after my age did not support me to work, I continue my work when asked to but then also nothing was repaired and provided.”
John, who was working with the varsity since, it was launched is running from pillar to post daily to get a relieving and pending salary but neither he got a formal relieving from his responsibility nor he got his salary for the last one year. “I was requesting to release my salary but I got nothing. I requested the in-charge Anju Gupta who is also the Director, Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB) to relive me from the post but she always ignored. When I requested Gupta to relieve me, she directed me to lock down the radio station and submit the keys at registrar office and so I did,” said John.
However, when the volunteers went to submit the keys at Registrar office, the staff members refused to accept the keys by saying, “The keys cannot be taken without any instructions from the senior authority.” After that the volunteers reached Gupta’s office at Art Faculty where she also refused to take the keys by saying ‘I cannot do anything,’ said the official.
When The Pioneer asked the in-charge about the closure of the radio, she said, “No, I did not hear any news about it and also I am not aware what you are talking about. Also, I am not an in-charge of this station.”
DUCR started with two consultants with more than 500 volunteers who broadcast programmes on different issues from 9 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Apart from the regular schedule, the volunteers made awareness programme on legal rights in association with Delhi State Legal Services Authority and National Skill Development Course (NSDC).
“It was one of the places that gave a chance to the students open school and many of them have made a career in print, broadcasting and television. It is a very bad news for every student of this varsity a learning platform will shut. Inspired by the DUCR and its students, many colleges started its own community,” said a senior volunteer, who is currently working with Akashwani.
The DUCR has endeavoured to keep the community radio relevant in modern technology environment while providing students an opportunity to build skills. However, over the years the university has failed to take care of its own baby and complete neglect must have led to it deemed closure now with non -payment of salaries to employees,” said Mohit Kumar Gupta, former student of DU, who started the legal awareness programme.
“DUCR can never be closed, it is one of the vital parts of the DU and learning platform for the students. There was a problem with the instruments and re-designing of the station is also on a talk. We will take a look up on the issue,” said Tarun Das, Registrar, DU.
