Mangalore, Sept. 21 The Mangalore-based St Aloysius College is all set to start the first community radio station of the region – Sarang 107.8 FM.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Dr Richard Rego, Director of Sarang 107.8 FM, St Aloysius College, said the radio station, which would be launched on Wednesday, will focus on the development needs of the local community. It would focus on issues related to health and hygiene, agriculture, children and local culture.

Programmes will be broadcast in Kannada, English and local languages such as Tulu, Konkani and Beary. There will also be programmes in Malayalam language, as Mangalore borders Kerala and quite a good number of students from the neighbouring State study in Mangalore.

Asked about the programme content and production, Dr Rego said that programmes will be produced by local communities, students from St Aloysius College and other colleges in the region.

The programme for the fishing community focuses on issues related to them, and produced with the help of local organisations.

Some programmes are produced by the students of Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies of the college.

Other colleges in the region have shown interest in producing programmes related to health and hygiene, he said.

Mr Naveen N., Chairman of the Southern India Regional Council of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), said the inauguration of Sarang 107.8 FM will be followed by a programme jointly organised by Mangalore branch of ICAI and Sarang 107.8 FM.

The Karnataka Governor, Mr H.R. Bharadwaj, will speak on ‘Mass media and social responsibility’, and Dr V.S. Acharya, Karnataka Home Minister, will speak on the topic ‘Vision Karnataka 2020’, on the occasion.

The Union Minister for Law and Justice, Mr Veerappa Moily, who will launch the community radio, will speak on ‘Challenges to law in the 21st century in the context of cyber crimes’, he added.