Radio communication should be made optional at schools

Express News Service Posted: Oct 12, 2008 at 0207 hrs IST
Ahmedabad, October 11 The chairman of Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR), S K Nanda said on Saturday that the Government should incorporate radio communication as an optional subject in schools and colleges. Nanda, who is also the Principal Secretary (Forest), emphasised on this while addressing a gathering of Ham radio operators in Gandhinagar. "Having radio communication as a subject in educational institutes will help develop people's interest in Ham radios. This will result into more people joining the group, which will subsequently result into more traffic in the amateur radio spectrum and better connectivity," said Nanda. Over 300 Ham radio operators from across the country are participating in the two-day event, HamfestIndia. Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt inaugurated the event. Ham radio operators demonstrated innovative techniques of radio communication, and also present their technical papers at the event. Besides GIAR members, engineering students, particularly studying communication and information technology, also attended the event on its first day. The event envisages to popularise Ham radio activities in Gujarat. There are nearly 600 licensed Ham radio operators in the state, mostly senior government officials. Ham radio, which is usually taken up as "a scientific hobby", has emerged as "a life-saving means" of communication during natural calamities across the world.

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