B.E.C. Dhwani @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Bharath B Badiger 

Broadcasting Language: Kannada 

Genesis: BEC Dhwani was established by Basaveshwar Engineering College (established 1963). It is the first radio station in Bagalkot and was inaugurated on 29th February, 2020. It was established with the objective to cater to the needs of the student community as well as the local community members in the nearby areas. 

Thematic Focus: The broadcast content of BEC Dhwani mainly consists of community based themes like education, health awareness, food and nutrition, agriculture, and art, traditions and culture. The CRS disseminates information related to agriculture and allied sectors for the farming community,  and preserves local folk culture and traditions through its programmes. 

Sustainable Development Goals: BEC Dhwani focuses its work on the following:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes that are broadcast by BEC Dhwani are Raita Mitra (agriculture), Namma Arogya (health awareness), Yuva Shakti (youth empowerment), Mahila Vedike (women empowerment), Kanunu Salahe (legal awareness), folk songs, Spoortiya Sele (motivational talk), Araluva Manasugalu (children’s programme) Mahiti Mane (information-based programme), and Vinana Sujnana (science).

Innovations in format or any other way: The CRS is managed and supported by the students for the welfare of the student as well as the local community. The CRS designs unique and community-specific programmes that focus on addressing the prevalent social problems in the community. Solutions to these problems are sought through the collective involvement of the community.

Core Team: BEC Dhwani has a small and efficient team which is headed by the Principal of the institution. The other team members include the Station Manager, Production Manager, Production Assistants as well as the radio jockey. 

Major Projects Undertaken: The following are the major projects undertaken by the CRS so far:

• COVID-19 awareness and as promotion of vaccination, in association with CRA
• COVID-19 appropriate behaviour as well as the efficiency of vaccines, in association with SMART
• Programmes series on National Education Policy 
• Swasthya Sankalp in association with UNICEF
• Awareness on Lymphatic Filaria in association with SMART

Sustainable Strategies: BEC Dhwani is financially and technically supported by the parent organisation,  Basaveshwar Engineering College. The CRS is also able to generate some revenue through externally funded collaborations with other organisations. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: The CRS has an active listeners of more than twenty five thousand listeners within its broadcast limits. 

Major concerns in the Community:  Despite a wide range of reformatory initiatives in agricultural extension in India, the access to and quality of information provided to farmers is not adequate. B.E.C. Dhwani CRS has made efforts to create awareness on seeds, water, fertilisers, and modern techniques that can produce better results. The CRS has also worked on raising awareness on different facilities, schemes, and benefits available for farmers through different departments. Hence, the CR strives to ensure that farmers have easy access to timely and cost-effective information to ensure better agricultural production and food security.