Wednesday, 19 May 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
USDMA to provide budget of Rs 10 lakh; govt universities and autonomous bodies roped in
For easy and fast communication during the time of natural disasters, the Uttarakhand government would set up community radio centres in all districts of the state. On the direction of the state minister for disaster management, cooperatives and higher education, Dhan Singh Rawat, the secretary, disaster management, SA Murugesan has asked all the district magistrates (DM) to submit proposals in this regard till June 4, 2021.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is a provision to set up community radios in different districts with the help of nongovernmental organisations (NGO) and autonomous bodies under the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). However due to official apathy, the scheme has not made any impact far. In a recent review meeting, Rawat took cognizance of the scheme and asked the department secretary to act on it. The department has now asked the DMs to submit proposals from the NGOs and other bodies till June 4.
Apart from them the proposals to set up community radios have been sought from the universities and autonomous bodies. In the order the department has said that the USDMA would provide a sum of Rs 10 lakh for setting up community radio centres in districts. Similarly a financial help of Rs 2 lakh per year for three years would be provided for operating these centres.
Rawat opined that the government universities and other autonomous bodies can do this work better and he gave the example of Uttarakhand Open University and GB Pant University Pantnagar who are operating community radios successfully in this regard. He said that apart from helping during disasters, the information on agriculture, horticulture, forestry, herbs, weather and others can be easily disseminated among the general public with the help of community radios.
