Radio Manipal @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Dr. Rashmi Ammembala

Broadcasting Language: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani & English

Genesis: Radio Manipal was established on 12th September 2008 by Manipal Academy of Higher Education( MAHE). Manipal Academy of Higher Education( MAHE) is one of India’s leading academic and research institutions. It has been granted institution-of-eminence status by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. MAHE with its more than 29 constituent institutions has implemented a number of outreach and extension programmes for which radio is a supporting medium. The vision of Radio Manipal is to inform, educate, entertain and empower people with information, and develop a just and humane society that is socially aware and responsible. 

Thematic Focus: Civic sense, human values, citizens’ rights and legal awareness, health awareness, education employment and entrepreneurship, and self-sustenance in agriculture and other activities are the main thematic areas of Radio Manipal.

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Manipal is actively working towards achieving the following SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes that are broadcast on Radio Manipal are  Darpana, Vikasa, Kathe Kelona, Puranamrutha, Arogya Darshana, Krushi Loka, Yakshagana. These programmes have been prepared in different engaging formats and are based on social issues, health, agriculture, education, and also promote the local culture and folk art. The CRS becomes a platform for discussion, knowledge exchange, and collective efforts in the direction of problem resolution. 

Innovations in format or any other way: Along with broadcasting, Radio Manipal effectively uses narrowcasting. The CRS collaborate with leading NGOs  like SKDRDP, and literary organisations like Kannada Sahitya Parishath, Panchavarna Yuvaka Mandal, Swachh Karkala Brigade  run campaigns and intervention projects in the community.

The CRS is active on all major social media platforms and engages with its audience, especially the youth, and shares updates on events and programmes.

Core Team: There are eleven CRMC members on the board of Radio Manipal, and two people constitute the core team. The CRS has an active team of volunteers, mainly students, who contribute to the different stages of programme development and delivery. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Manipal was part of the UNICEF-CRA initiative to create awareness on COVID-19 and vaccination. The CRS also partnered with the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department of the Government of Karnataka for an awareness campaign on conserving water. The CRS has been a part of several other initiatives in the regions throughout its fifteen years of service to the community.

Sustainable Strategies: All aspects from the infrastructure to the daily maintenance of Radio Manipal is borne financially by the parent organisation, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Thirty three villages including Kotathattu, Kota, Billadi, Avarse, Kokkarne, Cherkadi, Perdoor, Kukkehalli, Bairampalli, Upporu, Handadi, Neelavara, Arooru, Kalyanapura, Kemmannu, Thenkanidiyoor, Badanidiyoor, Ambalpadi, Kadekar, Udyavara, 80 Badagabettu, Athradi, Kodibettu, Bommarabettu, Manipura, Alevoor, Belle, Katapadi, Kote, Thenka, Padubidri, and Hejamadi fall within the broadcast limits of Radio Manipal. The CRS has an outreach potential of nearly 65,000 people within its vicinity and has an estimated active listener base of 25,000 listeners.

Major concerns in the Community:  Lack of effective waste management strategies and lack of awareness regarding environment conservation affect the community. These issues are serious threats to the already deteriorating environmental conditions and must be addressed immediately.