MUMBAI: All India Radio (AIR) known for promoting government schemes will now encourage the people to distance themselves against the Naxal groups to join the mainstream.

A month back, (AIR) had started off a couple of weekly audio programs 'Jamunia' and 'Priya' which highlighted various government schemes. Now, national broadcaster is playing jingles to counter Maoist propaganda.

The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned the budget of Rs 2.16 crore made to Prasar Bharti under the national media plan.

According to the plan, the jingles will be played in various Naxal violence-hit states for a period of two months. The report further states that the AIR stations on the medium wave and frequency modulation will relay the jingles which are part of a multi-pronged strategy of the government to carry out development works in the Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.

Recently, launched two audio serials (Jamunia and Priya) on AIR were to publicise the schemes and programmes of UPA government as part of Bharat Nirman campaign. As per reports an official said, the serials have a committed an inflow of advertising revenue of Rs 20.27 lakhs from Priya - and the anticipated revenue of Rs 54 lakhs from Jamunia, as against expenditure of Rs 3 lakhs and 5.23 lakhs respectively.

The story of ‘Priya’ is about a young, poor, uneducated but courageous woman who fights against all odds, bringing the village folk together, and generating awareness in them in the modern context. While Jamunia is the story of a female protagonist from a village and her valiant fight against oppression, is telecast across Hindi-speaking regions, 'Priya' is being shown in the Hindi belt as well as other regions.