Speakers including noted Agricultural Scientist Dr M S Swaminathan have extolled All India Radio (AIR) for its services to the country and its people for the past over eight decades. They were participating in a symposium -- Radio in Digital Age -- in New Delhi today on completion of 86 years of Radio Broadcasting in India.
Dr Swaminathan recalled the yeoman's services rendered by Akashwani in 1960s, at a time when the country was heading for a Green Revolution. He said through its messages, All India Radio made farmers' efforts for increasing food production a mass movement. He said it was because of foodgrain production in plenty that the government promulgated an Ordinance to make the the food a legal right.
Dr Swaminathan said AIR is better known for good news and good music.
Noted Journalist B G Verghese insisted on giving full autonomy to the public service broadcaster. He also gave details about the birth of Prasar Bharati.
http://newsonair.nic.in/news.asp?cat=National&id=NN952
VIa Jose Jacob
