Editor,
Despite recent celebrations regarding the restoration of certain services, a persistent crisis is plaguing our public broadcaster. While 2025 has been a year of partial relief with the restoration of FM stations like Akashvani FM Jongphi (Shillong), FM Rainbow Kannada Kaamanabillu (Bengaluru), Ananthapuri FM (Thiruvananthapuram), FM Rainbow Kolkata, FM Rainbow Panaji, FM Sangai (Imphal) and FM Ujjayanta (Agartala), we must not let this overshadow the systematic erosion of regional broadcasting that began over a decade ago.
The revival is welcome, but the wounds inflicted by the policy decisions of 2014, 2019, and 2023 remain deep and unhealed. The decline began in 2014 with the shutdown of Yuvavani, a platform that nurtured youth talent, followed by a gradual decay of regional shortwave transmitters. However, the most devastating blow came in 2019 with the “rationalisation” orders. In one fell swoop, we saw the shutdown of The North Eastern Service (NES) of Akashvani on shortwave radio, the closure of the National Channel, and the shuttering of Regional Academies of Broadcasting and Multimedia (RABMs) in five cities, including here in Shillong. It has been six years since the NES shortwave transmitter fell silent. The towers, as of May 2023, stand as silent sentinels, prone to weather and rust, while the station continues to broadcast on FM with a 100W transmitter, which cannot reach the entire Northeast India.
It is deeply frustrating to observe that while External Services shortwave transmitters were spared and upgraded, domestic regional transmitters were left to rot. This disparity suggests that the broadcaster cares more about its image abroad than serving its own citizens in remote areas. The Northeast Indian region is a terrain where FM coverage is often patchy and shortwave was the only reliable connector. Akashvani Kurseong faced a similar fate with their shortwave transmitter but an upgrade was planned—to install a new 50kW shortwave and DRM transmitter—but it was not fully commissioned as of 2025, which also shows discrimination in North Bengal.
Furthermore, the operational handling of the restored FM stations, specifically FM Jongphi, betrays a lack of understanding of regional identity. FM Jongphi is part of the FM Rainbow network. Yet, inexplicably, after the local closedown time was reduced from 11:10 PM to 10:30 PM, the station relays FM Gold Delhi from 10:30 PM to 5:58 AM. This is a mismatch of format and spirit. FM Jongphi should logically relay FM Rainbow Delhi, maintaining the continuity of its identity. This forced relay to FM Gold has created a chaotic listening experience. Also, the unique, nostalgic signature tune of NES is often drowned out or overlapped by the incoming feed from Delhi. Worse, this obsession with “24-hour broadcasting” via relay is taking a toll on the technical staff. Engineers are human beings, they require rest, energy, and personal time. They are not machines built to babysit a transmitter broadcasting non-local programming through the dead of night. When engineers are overworked and lose sleep, errors happen. We frequently experience “no transmission” or dead air because the transmitters are not switched on or off correctly due to fatigue.
Biology dictates that humans need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, a fact the policymakers in New Delhi seem to have forgotten. Expecting staff to function without adequate rest is not just poor management, it is sadistic. It creates a scenario where we lose local programming to a relay that often fails to transmit anyway. The dilution of content extends beyond technicalities. The removal of secular, inclusive programmes like Sehar Gahi (which covers religious content like The Quran and The Gita segments) in 2019 and the rebranding of “All India Radio” to “Akashvani” in 2023 signal a move toward homogenisation that disrespects the diverse cultural fabric of India.
If Prasar Bharati is serious about its mandate, it must do more than just restore FM channels. Firstly, it must Revive The North Eastern Service on Shortwave by upgrading the infrastructure to a 50kW analogue transmitter with DRM simulcasting to ensure high-quality, long-distance coverage. Secondly, stop the FM Gold Relay on FM Jongphi but if a relay is necessary, it must be FM Rainbow Delhi, or better yet, allow the station to close down at its original time to allow staff to rest.
Lastly, respect the identity of regional stations because the distinct signature tunes and local flavour are not inefficiencies to be “rationalised” but heritage to be protected. The restoration of FM Jongphi and others in 2025 was a victory for listeners, but if the programming is foreign to the region and the transmission relies on exhausted engineers, it is a hollow victory. This current state leaves no room for interpretation other than a blatant and shameless subjugation of regional identity.
Yours etc.,
Hamemanbha Lyngdoh Lawai,
Via email
Need for a dedicated State University for Teacher’s Education
Editor,
I take this opportunity to highlight the pressing need for a dedicated state university for Teacher Education in Meghalaya. As the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform teacher preparation, our state’s teacher training landscape remains fragmented across general universities, leading to inconsistencies in curriculum and research standards.
A specialized university would serve as a hub for advanced research in pedagogy, integration of indigenous knowledge, and streamlined teacher training. This would elevate teaching from a vocational course to a specialized professional discipline, equipping educators with 21st-century skills and global standards.
To achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, I urge the Education Ministry to consider establishing a dedicated university for Teacher Education in Meghalaya. This would secure our students’ future and contribute to the state’s educational development.
Yours etc.,
Krishnendu Deb,
Via email
