Morung Express News
Kohima | October 9
Within a span of one year, All India Radio’s FM Tragopan has been reaching out to a bigger audience beyond the State with increasing listeners from Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
During the celebration of its one year anniversary on October 9 at the AIR Station Kohima, the Program Executive Coordinator LK Mulony also informed that the FM Tragopan now has listeners tuning in from Goa, and Delhi.
While delivering the welcome address, N Kaimang Chang, Asst Director (P) mentioned that the FM receives over 400 messages on a daily basis from listeners within Nagaland as well as from neighbouring states.
The backbones of the FM, according to Chang, are the RJs whose efforts have made the FM Tragopan more popular.
The FM Tragopan was launched last year on October 2 through the initiatives of the former DDG (E) K V Ramachandran, Aolemla Yaden, former AD (P), and K Rosetso former POX.
With an objective to provide quality programmes and better coverage to listeners, the FM also aimed to transform the broadcasting system besides revenue generation.
The name ‘Tragopan’ was given after the State bird, Blythe Tragopan, which is an endangered species and mostly found in Nagaland.
“This has been done to convey the message to the people of Nagaland especially the younger generation for their awareness and to conserve and preserve our rich flora and fauna,” said Mulony.
News being the backbone of any media set up, he further informed that regional news is relayed in 14 languages apart from English and Hindi.
A special program called ‘Bosti Manohar Karne’ programme is also relayed to reach out to the rural mass. Further, the FM also runs an interactive program called The Morning Echoes.
“With the advancement of technology, the engineering staff has made us what we are today. They have put in their minds and energy and they have travelled the hilly terrains of Nagaland to set up FM Relay centres. Now we have relay setups at Tening, Meluri, Shamator and Dimapur at 100.1 MHz.”
“Now FM Tragopan has reached to all the people of Nagaland and also some neighbouring states district of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,” stated Mulony.
Considered an achievement for the commercial unit, the FM Tragopan today has a sponsored programme of Ura Academy every Saturday for 10 minutes and a Pune based program called ‘Spice’ by Seven Day Adventist Church sponsored by Elixir, Hyderabad on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for 10 minutes each.
Shahu Patole, Deputy Director AIR (News Section) also noted that the FM Tragopan is one of the few FMs in the country that relays news in multiple dialects and languages.
News in 16 languages, including English and Hindi, are relayed in a single day in FM Tragopan.
Patole also remarked that the FM Tragopan has reached out tremendously to its listeners through news, entertainment and knowledge.
Considering itself as an infotainment channel, the FM Tragopan has hosted live interactions and shows on elections, cyber crimes, health issues as well as other social issues such as women and child protection and care.
A new live show is to be introduced on October 23 where the first show will host popular Naga artists Alobo Naga and Methaneilie.
Voices connecting with masses: Tragopan RJs
“With their high skills of presentation, Radio Jockeys (RJs) have won the hearts of listeners which is the aim and objective of FM Tragopan,” said Mulony.
For RJs who do not consider themselves as public speakers, ‘jockeying’ has been the medium for them to connect to the listeners.
From the first day till date, the impact of FM Tragopan has been tremendous, says RJ Athing.
With a major emphasis on information and knowledge rather than just entertainment, RJ Tia considers FM Tragopan as an infotainment FM where the RJs are able to reach out to its listeners to spread awareness on varied pressing issues ranging from health to traffic rules and road safety.
“We personally take it as a challenge and make sure that each and every listener is made aware,” noted Tia.
On the relevance of radio in the digital age, the RJs viewed the FM radio still has its relevance in spreading awareness to the masses both in urban and rural setups.
“Surprisingly, Yes! In the digital age, mobile handsets have played a major role for radio listeners and in reaching out to the youngsters,” opined RJ Athing.
While RJ Tia also viewed that the radio listening culture has increased in a large scale with the introduction of FM Tragopan.
Although the promotion of local artist is yet to progress, RJ Josiah stated that the FM is a good medium to promote local artist and invites local artists to send in their music to be played in the radio.
“We are receiving messages from listeners inquiring about local artists and their songs,” he added.
