MUMBAI: After almost a year of testing, community radio station (CR) Radio Raman, which is based in the Dr. C.V. Raman University, Chhattisgarh will finally be launched on 1 May. Radio Raman will be inaugurated by the Governor of Chhattisgarh.

Amit Purohit who is the PRO of Dr. CV Raman University and also manager of Radio Raman, said, "After understanding the challenges and acquiring the knowledge about running a community radio through a test-run for a year now, we decide to launch it. The Governor was more than willing to inaugurate the station which is very encouraging."

Radio Raman goes live for minimum of two hours and maximum of three hour or more. The station runs from 10.30 am to 5 pm. "There was a time when we used to run from 6 am to 6 pm in the first few days but now we air content from 10.30 am to 5 pm," Purohit stated. The station airs educational programs in two languages mainly Hindi and Chhattisgarhi. The educational program caters to women, children, farmers and students of the community.

Now the CR is looking out for young and energetic people to join their team. The station also plans to add only their students as Radio Jockeys, Purohit added. Radio Raman will also introduce many new programs out of which one or two new initiatives will be announced on the inauguration day.

The CR station is financed completely by the 2006’s established Dr. C.V. Raman University. Purohit stressed, "The radio station is for the community and the students of the university so we are not looking at funding from anyone else apart from the university. We would like Radio Raman to be independent that way."

Earlier, it was started as a means to educate the students in the university about the various aspects of radio broadcasting. Purohit has been a driving force in setting up the station. He brings his 18 years of experience in media to Radio Raman. The CR station according to the university is the first of its kind in the State.