Radio MACFAST 90.4

Radio MACFAST 90.4

Radio MACFAST 90.4 is a social service arm and Community Radio of MACFAST (Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla) is the first on campus Community Radio in the state and 46th in the country which was launched on 1st November 2009.It believes that the emergence of a knowledge society is possible through focused work at the grass-root level. It realizes that transfer of knowledge happens in both direction from the urban society to the rural one and vice versa. It ensures its extensive presence in the Central Travancore (parts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kollam, Idukki and Kottayam districts) and acts as a catalyst by bridging the knowledge divide in people. It has almost ten lakh listeners from different parts of these five district. Now Radio MACFAST 90.4 is a trendsetter in community radio segment through its wide range of diverse and interesting programmes, which airs 18 hours a day. It has a key position in the heart of people by closely serving the community by reflecting vital community issues and focusing specifically on their needs.

True to its punch line “Nattukarku Koottayi (Community`s Companion) it strives to achieve “a partner friend in all the endeavors of the local populace”. It gives voice to the voiceless and acts as a centre for social, cultural and national integration. It intends to work towards creating a civil society with a growing sense of community values, irrespective of caste, creed, age, gender or discrimination based on level of education. Radio MACFAST 90.4 is a coordinating centre for uniting the knowledge from all sources of information, thus facilitating positive transformation in the society through community development, reconstruction and national integration.

Radio MACFAST 90.4 Initiated Programmes

1. CLEAN AND GREEN TIRUVALLA PROJECT

It is an initiative of Radio MACFAST 90.4 in association with Tiruvalla Municipality to achieve the aim “Clean and Green Tiruvalla. The concept put forward is NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) Syndrome to IMBY (In My Back Yard) habit.

3. WAR AGAINST DRUGS

WAR AGAINST DRUGS is a crusade programme against the usage of Alcohol and Drugs. Radio MACFAST conducted awareness programme, seminars, road shows etc. regarding this. We convey the message that liquor and drugs are fatal and that kills the customer inch by inch.

5. RADIO GRAMAM

RADIO GRAMAM is a social inclusion and charity initiative of Radio MACFAST through which the radio adopted a village and provided basic amenities for that village. Through this project, Radio MACFAST adopted a municipal ward named Railway station ward with the support of its component. The project focused on education, sanitation, charity, health and training of school students of the concerned ward. In 2015, school kits worth Rs. 1500 each were given to 25 students which includes school bags, books, umbrellas and mathematical instrument boxes etc.

7. LISTENERS CLUB

Radio MACFAST 90.4 ensures its extensive presence in Central Travancore with more than 10 lakh listeners. In November 2015 the radio conducted a radio listeners meet at MACFAST college and Listeners Club`was also formed for helping the local people with their daily needs. So far ten clubs were formed in and around 4 districts.

9. PARTICIPATION FROM STUDENTS

As a part of industry interface initiatives, students are participating with Radio MACFAST 90.4 programmes. They can not only expose their talents but also get an acquaintance to explore the unlimited opportunities of community radio. Additionally radio offers them fair remuneration to exercise the concept of self- sustainable campus. Students have the opportunity to work with radio from evening 5 pm to 10 pm every day and on all holidays.

2. HRIDAYASPANDANAM (Free Heart Surgery Programme)

It is one of the social responsibility activities of radio in association with Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla and different stake holders of Radio MACFAST 90.4. One surgery costs round Rs. 1,15,000. It envisages offering 50 free heart surgeries for those who are in need. So far 9 persons were successfully treated under ˜Hridayaspandanam™.

4. NERVAZHI™ Road Safety Programme

˜Nervazhi™(right path) is a one year pilot project launched by Radio MACFAST, in association with the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department and Kerala Police. Traffic awareness to students and public, seminars, road shows, award for best auto driver etc. were conducted under this programme.

6. UYIRPPU

UYIRPPU (Resurrection), focused on women empowerment to increase and improve the social, economic, political and legal strength of women. Radio MACFAST broadcasted a programme named Uyirppu in 15 episodes. Also a programme named Sthreesakthi (Women Empowerment) is now being broadcasted under this program twice a week.

8. KARUTHAL

KARUTHAL is a programme that was created to give an awareness against cancer and the need for organic farming with the help of Radio MACFAST listeners club. Plans were initiated to have a complete awareness program, by airing a daily program in the radio against cancer. As part of this project, the radio is initiating programmes to educate listeners about the need of organic farming by series of workshops.

10. CYBER LAW AND SECURITY AWARENESS

CLASA (Cyber Law and Security Awareness) aims to address the gaps with respect to cyber security awareness all over Kerala. The Project is jointly organized by MACFAST (Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla), Kerala Police and Radio MACFAST 90.4 .This project is Supported and sponsored by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). In this 21st century, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) through Internet has revolutionized the world, changing the whole paradigm of communication and exchange of information. Home users, students and school children, are utilizing the Internet to expand their horizons to learn, create identities and be a part of the society. However, there is a need to know how to use all the features provided by ICT in a safe manner without getting compromised with regard to privacy of personnel information, maintaining secrecy of information and creating trust in the cyber world. Along with the evolution of Internet and Information Technology, there has been a significant increase in the cyber attacks and cybercrimes. The number of cyber crimes registered in India rose 24 times over the years(2005-2015). Among the persons arrested every year, majority are under the age of 30 years. This project aims to address the gaps with respect to cyber security awareness all over Kerala by conducting outreach programmes at different schools and colleges all over Kerala.

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