Suno Sharda @ 90.8 FM

Contact Person: Dr. Ritu S Sood

Broadcasting Language: Hindi, English and Gujjari

Genesis: Sharda University has been dedicated to serving society since its inception. Through outreach activities, the university has identified solutions to society’s problems and created awareness about government policies and programmes. In December 2015, the university launched the community radio station Suno Sharda 90.8 FM, which functions as a terrestrial transmission CRS spread over a 10-km radius, and is available online through the Android app. Suno Sharda is a non-profit station that serves the informational needs of residents in the surrounding area in languages and formats suitable for the local environment. Suno Sharda is empanelled with the Directorate of Audio & Visual Publicity, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India

Thematic Focus: Programmes on Suno Sharda 90.8 MHz covers topics such as education, health, culture, law, local content, agriculture, women’s empowerment, sanitation, sustainable practices, social issues, legal education, folk music, and real-life inspirational stories.  

Sustainable Development Goals: Suno Sharda aspires to achieve these SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth    

SDG 13: Climate Action   

Primetime Programmes: Primetime programmes like Padhega India to Badhega India provide access to education for children and adults who may not otherwise have access. Radio OPD offers expert advice on nutrition, disease prevention, and healthcare services. Programmes like Meri Sakhi prioritise women’s empowerment, improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Khet Khaliyan promotes sustainable practices and environmental conservation, preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development. Kanooni Salah promotes legal literacy and awareness on human rights, social justice, and environmental protection. These CRS aim to address the needs and priorities of the local community through various programmes and initiatives.

Innovations in format or any other way: The community radio station utilises social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to engage with its audience, share programmes, host live Q&A sessions, and conduct surveys. It also produces interactive programming, such as call-in shows, live interviews, and panel discussions, to encourage audience participation. The CRS organises community outreach programmes, such as community events, live shows, and broadcasting from community centres or public spaces. The CRS produces podcasts, which can be downloaded and listened to anytime, allowing it to reach a wider audience and provide accessible content. Multilingual programming is also employed to reach a diverse audience, particularly in areas with high linguistic diversity.

Core Team: Suno Sharda has five core members and three student volunteers. The core team includes Station Director, Station Head, and Programming Head. The student volunteers are selected on an internship basis so that they can get hands-on experience of community engagement programmes. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Suno Sharda has been a part of several national and regional projects and campaigns. Some of the major projects executed by the CRS are Yoga Week, Skill Development, Swasthya Baan, AAKAR, TB Challenge, and COVID-19 vaccination drives. These projects have been executed in collaboration with organisations like CRA, SMART, CEMCA, and other local administrative agencies. 

Sustainable Strategies: The station relies on multiple sources of funding, including grants, and sponsorships. This helps to ensure that the station is not dependent on a single source of funding and can sustain itself over time. Suno Sharda prioritises engaging with the audience and involving them in the station’s operations. This helps the CRS to build a sense of ownership among listeners and encourages them to support the station in at least programming and organising events to promote the station. This reduces the station’s operating costs and helps in building a sense of community among volunteers. The CRS also focuses on the efficient use of resources, including equipment, staff time, and funding. This helps to ensure that the station is operating at maximum capacity while minimising waste and unnecessary expenses. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach:Suno Sharda has an active listener base of around 1,10,000 listeners within its broadcast limits. Many listeners also tune in through the Web Radio app of the CRS.

Major Concerns in the Community: The community faces several major needs and areas of concern, including inadequate access to quality education, health issues, lack of civic engagement, environmental concerns, need for women empowerment and economic development.