Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Minister Deepika Pandey Singh inaugurated Birsa Hariyali Radio Station at Birsa Agricultural University on Friday.

Programs related to farmers, women, children, health, meteorology, local culture, government schemes etc. will be broadcast from here for 3 hours daily from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. 50 programs will be in Hindi and 50 percent of the programs will be broadcast in the local language Nagpuri. The program of this radio station can be heard on 107.8 MHz FM in a radius of 10 kilometers in hilly-plateau areas and 20 kilometers in plain areas. This station is equipped with a 50 watt FM transmitter.

Community radio is not allowed to do sponsored programs other than those sponsored by the Central or State Government. A committee of scientists has been formed in various faculties to prepare content and material for broadcasting. The cooperation of the students of the university is also being taken in the preparation and presentation of the program.

The country's first community radio station was established in the year 2004 at Anna University, Chennai and the 500th community radio station was inaugurated in July 2024 by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl, Mizoram. Community radio is not allowed to broadcast news.

The minister said in his address that through this radio, communication will be established with the surrounding farmers and villagers and they will be empowered through new technology and information. He said that students should be the first priority for any higher educational institution and they should be provided quality education, better environment and facilities.

"No matter related to student welfare should remain pending. Socio-economic upliftment of farmers should be done through research results useful for the region and special attention should be paid to the empowerment of women farmers," Deepika said. He also assured to make necessary efforts soon for the promotion of teachers and staff and appointment to vacant posts.

The Agriculture Minister directed the scientists to work on an effective strategy to make Jharkhand self-sufficient in terms of food grains, meat, eggs, fish and milk. She also reviewed the functioning of the university by meeting with the Vice Chancellor and senior officials of BAU in the board room. The minister also visited the Veterinary College and interacted with the students there.

BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey said that this year special attention has been focused on the renovation of university hostels, increase in facilities there, library, postgraduate research done by students and facilities related to extracurricular activities. He said that 80 percent of the posts of teachers, 50 percent of non-teaching staff, 70 percent of KVK personnel and 100 percent of university officers are lying vacant in the university, while the new education policy emphasizes increasing the intake of students every year.

Professor Ashok R Patil, Vice Chancellor of National University of Law Studies and Research, Ranchi was also present in the program.

The welcome address was given by Dr BK Jha, in-charge of the radio station and the vote of thanks was given by the Registrar Dr Narendra Kudada, directed by Shashi Singh.