Report by Debadatta Panda; Bhawanipatna: To accelerate the development of the most backward district of India like Kalahandi in the year 1993 an All India Radio station with 200 kilowatt high power transmitter was established with an expenses of rupees from central Govt. at Bhawanipatna, the District head quarter of Kalahandi.

The aim of this AIR station was to provide entertainment along with information regarding all policies with education and health awareness to the people of KBK region. As such the AIR station is providing services since last 18 years with its full infrastructure. It is also known from their source that this station is spending nearly one and half crore rupees from the central Govt, every year.

On the otherhand as the Kalahandi district administration and Nuapada dist. administration are not taking their keen interest to use this AIR station in providing information regarding different govt. policies and schemes with awareness to the people of this locality the aim of the establishment of this AIR station is not fullfilled. After 18 years of the establishment of this station no any Song and drama division is opened as yet. Due to shortage of staff no sufficient programmes are being undertaken. The post of Station director, three posts of programme executive and four posts of announcer is lying vacant since years togethers. Like this in the engineering section the post of superintendent engineer, two post of asst.station engineers, two posts of asst engineer are lying vacant since years togethers. This station is running with one Asst.station director and one asst. engineer.

In Kalahandi district more than 1100 villages are not electrified and no such proper communication asyet.So the people still depend upon the AIR radios. And radio is the only media to get it without any cost at any where.Unfortunately no any awareness programmes are being broadcasted from this AIR station since long. People demands its vacant to be fullfilled to serve this station in a better way.