Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps has launched Sikkim’s first border village community radio station to improve connectivity in remote areas.‘88.4 FM Radio Sikkim Sundari’ aims to boost communication and information access in remote high-altitude border areas. Dedicated to the citizens of India in Sikkim, the station addresses challenges of geographic isolation, harsh weather and limited mobile and internet connectivity. It aims to bridge the information gap by providing reliable and timely communication, a release said.It will provide a platform for local culture and youth participation, and also give an opportunity to local youth to develop communication skills and contribute to community engagement, an officer said. The radio station was inaugurated in the presence of senior officers of Trishakti Corps, representatives of the civil administration, and members of the local community.“The initiative will help connect communities, amplify local voices, and support development in remote areas,” a senior Army officer said.While primarily a community radio station for border areas, the station is also accessible via the Radio Sikkim Sundari 88.4 FM app on Google Play Store.The Army has been actively expanding its community radio network across several strategic border regions. In addition to ‘Sikkim Sundari’, other such initiatives include ‘Radio Sangam’ (88.8 FM) in Rajouri district of J&K; ‘Ibex Tarana’ (88.4 FM) for Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand to assist with disaster preparedness and health information for remote communities; and ‘Ladakh Stations’ in high-altitude regions like Drass, Kharu, and Hanle to bridge communication gaps caused by geographic isolation.
