FM Alive @ 90.8

Contact Person: Ms. Prabha Gupta

Broadcasting Language: Hindi

Genesis: The WADA organisation established Aligarh Community Radio Station FM Alive 90.8 in 2015 with the goal of representing the voices of underrepresented people in all spheres, including employment, education, and health. Even though its reach is restricted, the community members benefit from its interventions; the CRS aims to address the issues of the community and find effective resolutions. The majority of programmes are goal- and community-oriented.

Thematic Focus: The CRS focuses on women’s education and healthcare, with the aim to transform the lives of the people of Aligarh. The station produces creative content in local languages, including jingles, poems, and folk songs, addressing issues of illiteracy and semi-literacy. FM Alive interviews educationalists, farmers, agriculturists, and women, allowing them to discuss their issues, and share their experiences and knowledge effectively. 

Sustainable Development Goals: FM Alive focuses mainly on these goals:

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 

SDG 15: Life on Land

Primetime Programmes: Primetime programmes which are broadcast at FM Alive include Bhakti Sangeet, Aligarh Alive, Khet Khaliayan, Meena ki Dunia, Ye Sham Suhani, and Chale Gaon Ki Ore. These programmes focus on local affairs, expert interviews, and issues faced by community members in the rural areas. They also offer information on organic farming, folk songs. Meena ki Dunia addresses children’s issues and their solutions, while Ye Sham Suhani promotes youth awareness about education, career guidance, and mental health. The spiritual discourse programme broadcasts talks by motivational speakers. 

Innovations in format or any other way: FM Alive is an active proponent of narrowcasting in the community. It helps the CRS establish a connection with the local community, register their issues, and design effective interventions to resolve them. FM Alive is also in the process of developing an application of its own. 

The CRS has been able to create a significant change in the community which is evident from the facts that more farmers have adopted organic farming, and more girls in the community pursue higher education after listening to the programmes and participating in the events organised by the CRS.

Core Team: The core team at FM Alive is constituted by the Station Director, Station Manager, Station Incharge, and a team of radio jockeys and volunteers. 

Major Projects Undertaken:We have taken several projects. We partnered with  the major Ideosync organisation  

A project on democracy supported by Ideosync 

A project on Social responsibility and Role of community Radio Station 

A project with the support of UNICEF 

In the eight years of its service, FM Alive has been a part of several projects. It collaborated with Ideosync for an initiative on democracy, and another on social responsibility and the role of community radio. The CRS has also collaborated with UNICEF, and has partnered with CEMCA for several initiatives including the International Day of Yoga campaigns in 2021 and 2022.

Sustainable Strategies: FM Alive aspires to be a self-sustained entity by attracting paid collaborations with different government agencies and private organisations. The CRS also generates revenue through advertisements. The parent organisation WADA supports the CRS financially during times of crisis. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: FM Alive covers the rural and urban areas of Aligarh within its broadcast limits and the area has a population of nearly 5,00,000 people. 

Major Concerns in the Community: Low rates of enrolments of girls in schools is a matter of concern in the community. The area is affected adversely by the lack of effective waste management strategies. These concerns need urgent attention and need to be addressed by the local administrative bodies. Lack of civic sense and awareness about public welfare schemes are also issues that affect the community.