Radio Sharda @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Mr. Ramesh Hangloo

Broadcasting Language: Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi and Hindi

Genesis:  Pir Panchal (CSES) is working for the betterment of the displaced community of Jammu & Kashmir. The CRS was established with a clear vision to promote and propagate the culture and languages of the region, while also focusing on the education, health and hygiene of the displaced community. The CRS is responsible for passing crucial information regarding different matters to the community.  The CRS was established in 2011 and has now become an integral part of the community. The community members are involved in all the activities of the CRS and contribute their performances. The CRS has been appreciated for its work in the region and has been awarded by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. 

Thematic Focus: The displaced community, who were forced to leave their homes due to militant activities in the region, were rendered voiceless. The culture and language of the community were under threat too. The focus of the CRS is to enrich the roots of the local culture and protect the local languages. The CRS also promotes the upliftment of the community by focusing on health and hygiene. Youth empowerment and education are other areas of focus for  the CRS.

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Sharda focuses on achieving the given SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes of Radio Sharda are:

• Aradhana : Socio-cultural and religious awakening programme to keep the community connected with its cultural roots 
• Waangij Voor: A dramatic presentation of different issues including civic problems, health, hygiene and sanitation concerns, and administrative problems that are faced by the community. The programme also strives for the redressal of these issues.
• Children programme: An educative programme for children to teach them the local language 
• Eak Mulakat: Experts from different fields like arts, education, and health, discuss different subjects to guide the youth. 

Innovations in format or any other way: The CRS also actively narrowcasts its programmes along with conventional broadcasting. The CRS collaborates with local educational institutions and other organisations to host community events on culture, education, art, etc. 

Core Team: The core team at Pir Panchal is led by the Founder Director. The team also includes members from the Pir Panchal NGO and local civil society. The key decisions regarding the station are taken after consultation with these members.   

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Sharda was part of different projects on immunity and Yoga in association with the Ministry of Ayush and CEMCA. The CRS has collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology for a project to promote science for women. It carried out the Factshala project in collaboration with DataLEADS for an initiative on media literacy. 

Sustainable Strategies: While the CRS is funded and supported by the parent organisation, it strives to generate through externally funded collaborations and advertisements.

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: The CRS has an active listener base of nearly one lakh listeners in the region. The CRS’ content has been accessed in more than a hundred countries through the means of web radio. 

Major concerns in the Community:  The community needs better education and health infrastructure. It also needs support as it is placed in a region that constantly is prone to attacks and militant activities; this affects the mental health of the community members and the overall peace of the region.