Ham radio operators first to report disaster

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. In times of natural disasters, amateur radio enthusiasts are always the first ones to open up a front of communication that helps the authorities initiate relief operations. This was once again observed during the recent earthquake in Gujarat, thus building up a case for boosting conscious interest in amateur radio.

As was the case during the Orissa cyclone and in earlier disasters like the Latur earthquake, Ham operators this time round swung into action and established communication networks in different affected areas. In Delhi, the network was established in the offices of the Resident Commissioner and the Central Relief Commissioner under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The efforts made by the Ham operators, under the leadership of the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), has now been duly acknowledged. Emergency HAM radio communication at various earthquake affected places in Gujarat, said Mr. Anil Sinha, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, has helped the administration in providing timely and effective relief.

According to a letter written by Mr. Keshubhai Patel, Gujarat Chief Minister to Mr. S. Suri, Executive Vice-Chairman and Director of the National Institute of Amateur Radio, communication with different blocks and remote villages could not have been established on the morning of January 27 had they not airlifted a team of Ham radio volunteers with 20 Ham radio sets to Ahmedabad.

``The communication links with Gandhidham, Bachau and other affected places were cut off from the rest of the world and at that hour, we could establish communication links only through the Ham radio volunteers,'' he said.

On his part, Mr. H. J. Jamdar, Principal Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Road and Buildings Department, said Ham radio had to be promoted in every nook and corner, especially in Gujarat.

However, its systematic promotion has not yet gathered momentum even though many bureaucrats at the highest level are in favour of its encouragement. The Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr. N. Vittal, in 1999, went to the extent of suggesting that a part of the Universal Service Fund, if any, constituted for promoting rural telecom can be utilised for encouraging amateur radio telephony.

``This is because in those places where regular telephone services are not available, amateur radio can be of use. Especially in times of natural disasters, the amateur radio enthusiasts have to go and help the authorities in relief operations. Hence, earmarking an amount from the Universal Service Fund for consciously encouraging amateur radio enthusiasts will be fully justified,'' Mr. Vittal had said.

Seconding Mr. Vittal's opinion, Additional Director, NIAR, Mr. Bharati Prasad, said setting up Ham radio stations in different parts of the country as part of a comprehensive disaster management was essential. Its utility as an emergency line of communication, when everything else fails, has stood the test of time, and it is time this people's movement received a boost.

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