Premium

Campus Talk | How a community radio run by a Mumbai college offers hands-on learning opportunities

Initially broadcasting for just eight hours a day, Acharya 90 FM of NG Acharya and GK Marathe College in Chembur has since expanded to a full 24-hour schedule.

Launched in 2022, Acharya 90 FM is one of the rare college-run community radios in Mumbai

For those looking to build a career in radio broadcasting, enrolling at NG Acharya and GK Marathe College in Chembur could be a good choice. The reason: its very own 24-hour community radio, Acharya 90 FM. Equipped with a professional-grade studio and trained staff on campus, the radio station offers students hands-on experience that mirrors the workings of a real-world radio channel.

Launched in 2022, Acharya 90 FM is one of the rare college-run community radios in Mumbai. Initially broadcasting for just eight hours a day, the station has since expanded to a full 24-hour schedule. Apart from dedicated segments by two in-house RJs, the community radio features academic and career-related content recorded by faculty members, along with the traditional entertainment content of mainstream radio channels, such as music.

One of the two RJs, Tejaswini Mundaye, who also serves as the overall coordinator of the Acharya 90 FM, said the radio station broadcasts in Marathi, Hindi, and English, or a mix of these languages, tailored to suit the specific audiences. Besides music, the radio’s content includes interviews with celebrities or people who are in the news locally, interactions with inspiring personalities, and academic or career-oriented sessions for the local youth. “The idea is to provide a dedicated platform for the local community,” she said.

Responsibility towards the local community was the idea behind the launch of this community radio by the Chembur Trombay Education Society, the parent body of the college. The society’s general secretary, Subodh Acharya, said, “It all started with an application to the Central Government in 2016 after reading about the impact of a community radio station. After years of follow-up to obtain permission, we launched in 2022. And our college was selected as the base, so students could benefit directly.”

Not just for mass communication students

Acharya said the management had arranged for consultations with radio experts. The studio and the logo were designed by students of the trust’s architecture college, while students of mass media and other courses have become a critical part of the station’s day-to-day operations.

Elaborating further, Mundaye said, “Our radio station mirrors the setup of any professional radio channel with dedicated teams handling marketing, advertising, content creation, etc. This allows students the opportunity to gain experience in an area of their choice. Apart from students from mass media courses, students from other disciplines also intern with us to gain hands-on experience.”

Acharya 90 FM also features recorded academic and career guidance programmes by faculty, available as podcasts via the station’s mobile app. “These podcasts are especially popular during exam and admission seasons—not just among our students, but also across the wider community,” said Mundaye.

Story continues below this ad

Dr Sunil Kadam, the principal in-charge of the college, said, “Acharya 90 FM extends classroom learning into real-world application. Our teachers also record remedial lectures for past learners to clear pending papers, which invariably help a larger student community from the locality.”

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram