Radio Ala @ 90.8 FM

Contact Person: Mr. K. Sathyavathi, Mr. MVR Phaneendra

Broadcasting Language: Hindi and English

Genesis: Radio Ala 90.8 FM was established in 2013 by Malireddy Charitable Trust. ‘Ala’ means tides; Radio Ala is ‘tide of information’ for the local community.The tagline of Radio Ala is ‘Mana Ooru, Mana Radio’ which means ‘Our City, Our Radio’. Radio Ala primarily caters to fishing communities who have a constant need for reliable weather information. The CRS continuously strives to change the lives of the poor and weaker sections of the community. It addresses the problems at the grassroot levels and focuses on solving them for the better of the community. The CRS is a force of influence and an important source of information in the area. 

Thematic Focus: The primary focus areas of Radio Ala are education, environment, health, bridging socio-economic inequalities, and skill development. The CRS works in all areas that directly have a bearing on the well-being of the target communities. Its initiatives are community-centric that focus on resolving issues at the grassroot level and upwards. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Ala  ensures a responsive and accountable administration through its focus on these SDGs:

SDG 1: No Poverty

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Primetime Programmes: Radio Ala is bridging the gap between the government and the public by providing opportunities for the poor to speak directly to concerned officers. The programme Doctor’s Special addresses health hazards and provides medical solutions. ‘Classroom’ is a unique programme launched by Radio Ala which aims for the upliftment of blind students by helping them in academic matters to guide them towards a better future.

Innovations in format or any other way: Radio Ala has launched a programme called ‘Soukaryam’ to provide livelihood to skilled unemployed men and women in the state. Radio Ala has played a crucial role in helping the fishermen community during Cyclone Hud-Hud and Cyclone Titlee. The INCOIS weather updates have been helpful to the fishing communities and the public, as they relied on Radio Ala’s credible information on low-pressure areas in the Bay.

The CRS has developed many initiatives that are tailored for the benefit of the community, and these initiatives have had a huge impact on the community. 

Core Team: There are six CRMC members on the board of Radio Ala. Six members form the core team at Radio Ala. The radio also has a dedicated group of community volunteers. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Ala was a part of the International Day of Yoga campaigns in 2021 and 2022 in association with the Ministry of Ayush and CEMCA. It has been a part of campaigns of digital media literacy and fake news. The CRS has also been associated with UNICEF for several initiatives. 

In addition to these projects, Radio Ala has constantly worked on developing internal programmes/interventions that cater to the specific needs of the community, which are often not covered under regional or national initiatives. 

Sustainable Strategies: Radio Ala is funded by its parent organisation Malireddy Charitable Trust. The CRS also generates revenue through externally funded collaborations. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Radio Ala is based in  an area with a population of nearly five lakh people. The CRS has an active listener base of nearly 1,50,000 people. 

Major concerns in the Community: The community is based in an SEZ and they have to abide by many restrictions. Environmental concerns like pollution and inadequate waste management strategies pose a threat to the livelihood of the community. Sustainable livelihoods and better income can help the community do better.