Radio Pragya @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Ms. Tej Narayan Srivastava

Broadcasting Language: Hindi and Bhojpuri 

Genesis: Radio Pragya, established in 2017 by Carvan Sanskritik Evam Vikas Manch in Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh, aims to raise awareness about children’s education, women’s empowerment, and health in remote villages. With over eighty percent of the population living in remote villages, many lack access to education and technology. Since its inception, Radio Pragya has helped the community members become aware and educated in the last five years. The organisation continues to work towards improving these areas.

Thematic Focus:  The parent organisation of Radio Pragya is an NGO that focuses on promoting education and social development in the community, aiming to create a positive impact by providing educational opportunities, resources, and support. Radio Pragya prioritises gender equality, professional and economic growth, and reducing illiteracy. The programmes aim to increase access to education for children and adults, and transform lives through education. The CRS also promotes community involvement, empowerment, and sustainability, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their lives and communities. Radio Pragya’s mission is to create a more equitable and just society by investing in education and empowering individuals, paving the way for a brighter future. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Pragya aims to achieve these SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institution

Primetime Programmes: The following are the primetime programmes that are broadcast at Radio Pragya.

Gyan Vigyan is a programme that focuses on education and learning, offering informative and engaging content to enhance knowledge and skills. It covers a wide range of topics, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, history, literature, and more. The programme is designed to make education accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or education level. It features expert speakers who share their insights and experiences, encouraging listeners to participate in discussions and debates. 

Ghatna Kram is a programme that covers general knowledge, politics, economics, science, technology, sports, and entertainment. It features expert speakers who encourage listeners to stay informed and up-to-date on important events and developments. The programme is designed to be informative, engaging, and entertaining.

Genius of the Week is a quiz programme on various subjects, including general knowledge, sports, entertainment, history, and more. Listeners can participate by calling in or sending messages, and those who answer the questions correctly have a chance to win prizes and certificates from the administration (DM, SP). 

Innovations in format or any other way: Radio Pragya uses various techniques for outreach and narrowcasting to reach out to the community. The outreach involves efforts to connect with the community and build stronger relationships. Other techniques include targeted programming, mobile broadcasting, community engagement, and social media engagement. Targeted programming ensures that the radio station’s programming is relevant and interesting to the community, while mobile broadcasting allows the station to reach remote areas and establish temporary studios in public spaces. Community engagement through events, campaigns, and outreach programmes fosters trust and ownership among community members. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube help reach out to the community, share information, connect with listeners, and promote programmes. The CRS also street plays and campaigns to reach out to people in their localities. These plays are designed to create awareness about various social issues, and also to promote their programmes. 

Core Team: The core team at Radio Pragya has 12 members which include the Station Director, Manager, radio jockeys, technical staff and other support staff. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio has been a part of several major projects with organisations like UNICEF, CRA, SMART, and CEMCA. The CRS partnered with UNICEF, AAKAR for a study in the rural areas and health awareness during COVID-19. It also partnered with CRA to run a health and education awareness campaign in the community to promote the education of young boys and girls. In an ongoing project, the CRS is collaborating with the UP Government to create awareness regarding mental health, and education.

Sustainable Strategies: Carvan Sanskritik Evam Vikas Manch, the parent organisation of Radio Pragya meets nearly forty percent of the annual expenses of the CRS. The remaining funds are raised through the means of paid partner projects with different organisations. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Eight Blocks -. Padrauna, Kasia, Dudahi, Hata, Sukrauli, Khadda, Motichak, Seorahi – fall in the broadcast range of Radio Pragya. The area has a population of nearly 2,50,000 people and the CRS has an active listener  base of approximately 1,50,000 listeners. 

Major Concerns in the Community: The target community struggles with problems like poverty, health concerns, and inadequate health and educational infrastructure. Pollution and other environmental concerns also affect the well-being of the community.