AIR reflects India’s diversity; broadcasts programmes in 23 languages & 179 dialects – Shri Venkaiah Naidu

Newdelhi:16/6/17;i M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information & Broadcasting has said that in this era of cacophony when television channels, newspapers, social media platforms were vying for garnering the highest rating points by dishing out sensational and often unsubstantiated news, All India Radio still continued to be the first choice of majority of the population for authentic news not only within the country but also for those Indians abroad who wanted to keep in touch with the happenings in their motherland. The Government was committed to the total freedom of Press & Expression while at the same time disinformation was dangerous.  The Minister stated this at the Akashwani Annual Awards ceremony here today. Col. Rathore, MoS I&B, Chairman, Prasar Bharati, Secretary I&B and CEO, Prasar Bharati were also present on the occasion.Highlighting the diversity of AIR, Shri Naidu said that, in terms of number of languages and dialects of broadcast, All India Radio was the world’s largest public service radio broadcaster.  Presently, All India Radio broadcasts in 23 languages and 179 dialects. All conceivable radio formats like music, plays, documentaries, features, interviews, talks, innovative programmes, news etc. were used by All India Radio across its entire network comprising of 421 broadcasting centres.  AIR, through its external broadcast in 15 foreign and 12 Indian languages, served as India’s authentic voice to the outside world and projected India’s viewpoint on contemporary issues in the right perspective in the face of propaganda by forces inimical to country’s interest.