Indian Minister for Information & Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu said that All India Radio (AIR) as a medium of communication had played a significant role in serving millions during natural disasters.

The Minister mentioned this while delivering his address at the Akashwani Annual Awards ceremony last week.

He said that with changing technology, AIR has also reinvented itself through Digital Radio Mondiale, live streaming of services and a mobile app.

AIR, through its external broadcast in 15 foreign and 12 Indian languages, serves as India’s voice to the outside world.

The awards have been an annual feature since 1974 when AIR instituted them in the memory of those amongst its staff who laid their lives while waging counter offensive through their broadcasts against forces inimical to the integrity and unity of India.

The awards include a number of categories of including plays, documentaries, musical production, children’s choral singing and innovative programmes.