Desh Bhagat Radio @ 107.8 FM

Contact Person: Mrs. Sangmitra Singh

Broadcasting Language: Hindi, English & Punjabi

Genesis: Desh Bhagat Radio was established in 2012 by Desh Bhagat University, Chandigarh. The community radio station was set up focusing on the student community in the campus, and to serve the informational needs of the local community. Throughout the years of its service, the CRS has been an integral part of the student community in the campus.

Thematic Focus: The primary focus area of Desh Bhagat Radio is education. The CRS also focuses on youth empowerment by providing career guidance. In addition to the core theme, the CRS also caters to generic informational needs of the local communities who reside within the broadcast limits of the community. 

Sustainable Development Goals: The CRS focuses on the SDGs given below:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes of Radio Desh Bhagat are City Life, Healthy Morning, P3, and Rab Da Vella.

City Life is a programme that discusses the different subjects like the latest events in the city, social concerns and problems, weather, traffic, and also incorporates inspirational stories for the listeners. This is a city round-up programme exclusively about Chandigarh. Healthy Morning focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle through discussions on lifestyle, stress, and health concerns and tips to address them. P3 is a programme that focuses on the latest trends in the world of fashion. Rab Da Vella dwells on spiritual themes.  

Innovations in format or any other way: Radio Desh Bhagat hosts different activities and events for the students in the campus. The CRS organises events like cyclothons and marathons in partnership with organisations like Desh Bhagat Foundations. These events help the CRS to connect with the students as well as the local community. 

The CRS is an active presence on social media platforms. This helps the CRS connect with its listeners and reach out to its potential audience.

Core Team: There are ten members in the Desh Bhagat Radio’s team, which includes the Station Head and Station Producer. The CRS is actively supported by student groups who volunteer to contribute to different stages of programme production and delivery. They are most often eager to be presenters and radio jockeys.

Major Projects Undertaken: Desh Bhagat Radio, in association with Physics Wallah, carried out a micro-study on analysing the student dropout rates in the local colleges. The CRS partnered with the State Bank of India’s Chandigarh branch to organise a marathon for health awareness. The CRS has also been a part of several initiatives, in association with CEMCA and the Ministry of Ayush, on immunity and Yoga.  

Sustainable Strategies: Desh Bhagat Radio is financially supported by the parent organisation, Desh Bhagat University. The CRS also manages to generate some revenue through externally funded partner projects. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula are covered within the broadcast limits of the CRS, and has an outreach potential of approximately 13,25,000 people.

Major concerns in the Community: Anxiety, stress, and peer pressure are all problems that trouble the student community. These issues often lead to breakdowns and other serious conditions. The students and youth must be educated about mental health hygiene.

They also need to be made aware of addictions of different sorts and the harmful effects of excessive usage of social media.