MUMBAI: Saturday is World Radio Day, as declared by UNESCO in 2011. This year, UNESCO is promoting radio as a medium that has been around in times of “emergency and disaster” and is being marked by special programming by broadcasters worldwide.

World Radio Day is about celebrating radio, why we love it and why we need it today more than ever. It is a day to remember the unique power of radio to touch lives and bring people together across every corner of the globe. It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference.

The UN arm also put forward the following points for radio stations across the globe to take this initiative forward, including

1. Freedom of expression and journalists’ safety should be disaster-proof.

2. Radio empowers survivors and vulnerable people, whose right to privacy is to be respected.

3. Radio has social impact and provides access to information. People’s right to information should be protected even in times of emergency and disaster.

4. Radio saves lives.

5. The immediate accessibility of radio frequencies is essential to saving lives. These frequencies should be protected so they are available in times of emergency.

Most of the private FM players in India, however, appear to be immune to the UN directive. FM players in Mumbai contacted by Radioandmusic.com said they had no special programming plans for World Radio Day.

Almost all the radio stations are busy planning Valentine’s Day special programmes for Sunday. All India Radio, the government broadcaster, is the only station that has come up pro-active programming to mark World Radio Day. Click here for the details.

While the first two years were marked without a theme, 2014 had the theme of  Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Radio, while in 2015 the theme was Youth and Radio, with the goal of increasing the participation of young people in radio. World Radio Day, which this year coincides with the 70th anniversary of UN Radio, aims to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters; and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves.

World Radio Day, which this year coincides with the 70th anniversary of UN Radio, aims to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters; and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves.

The regional wing of the UNESCO has organised an event on the theme ‘Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’ to be held in New Delhi on 16 February 2016. There will be:

· Experts’ presentations on community radio (CR) interventions for DM in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

·  A high-level panel discussion on DM strategies and initiatives using radio

·  Testimonials from communities across the region about the benefits of CR for DM and awards for local initiatives undertaken in observance of World Radio Day 2016.