Radio Active @ 90.4 FM

2nd floor, Sumrit Mandal Complex, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tilkamanjhi, Bhagalpur, Bihar – 812001

Contact Person: Mr. Sandeep Kumar Pandey, Mr. Md. Imteyaz Khan

Broadcasting Language: Angika, Hindi, Urdu, English

Genesis: Radio Active is the first community radio in Bhagalpur and came into being after much deliberation. The CRS began its testing in 2011 and came into being on 13th January 2012, by Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain (former Member of Parliament). The tagline of Radio Active is ‘it’s your voice’. The CRS aims to be the voice of every individual in the community, and strengthen them to express their opinions and concerns. 

The Radio Active 90.4FM Bhagalpur is a platform for different communities to converge/unite, share ideas, encourage creative expressions, raise issues (civic and social rights), promote local talent, local business, foster local traditions, and be sensitised on issues of importance. 

Thematic Focus: Radio Active aims for the holistic development of the society with focus on the areas of education, health, agriculture, women empowerment, social harmony, justice, and culture.  The CRS also focuses on preserving local art forms and languages through its programmes. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Active is committed to achieving the SDGs listed below:

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Primetime Programmes: Second Innings, Naya Zamana-Naya Course, Active Library, Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai, and Yodha are the primetime programmes that are broadcast by Radio Active. Second Innings is a programme for senior citizens, and it discusses life post-retirement and addresses the concerns of the elderly in the community. Naya Course-Naya Zamana is a programme that discusses the latest career prospects and courses to guide the youth towards better employment opportunities and career growth. Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai is an interactional programme for the community members to express themselves. Active Library is a literary programme that focuses on books, authors, and genres. Yodha is a series on freedom fighters and social activists. 

Innovations in format or any other way: Radio Active focuses on preserving the local languages and therefore, creates programmes in different languages spoken in the region. This is important in a changing world where local cultures, art forms, and languages are fast disappearing. 

The CRS is also active on all major social media platforms and engages with its audience, especially the youth. It also helps to connect with potential listeners from all over the world.

Core Team: Eleven members constitute the core team of the CRS, and each of them handles a unique responsibility ensuring the smooth functioning of the station. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Active was a part of the TB Challenge which is an awareness programme on Tuberculosis. The CRS participated in the Swasthya Baan awareness campaign on health and nutrition. In association with FactShala, the CRS launched a digital media literacy programme. Bachpan Express is an initiative on early marriage and girls’ dropout from school, and the CRS was a key partner in it. 

 Sustainable Strategies: Community radio stations often struggle with the shortage of funds due to the stringent regulations they are subject to, and Radio Active is one among them. The CRS has managed to sustain itself over the last twelve years with the support of community members, local enterprises, and multilateral organisations. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Radio Active broadcasts its programmes in an area with a population of nearly 8,35,000 people and has active listener base of approximately 2,60,000 listeners. 

Major concerns in the Community: Local art forms and culture are fast diminishing, and these must be preserved at all costs.

Bhagalpur is a flood prone area and the community members are often displaced during the calamity. Adequate disaster management and disaster control measures must be put in place to be better prepared in tackling such situations.