Ham Radio India - VU2.IN

I was pleasantly surprised to read about the development in HAM Radio and innovation that enables one to use 'bamboo stick' as an antenna. While the whole world is still learning to decipher the idiosyncrasis of QRP, SWR and what not, here in our own country innovation at it's best can be seen with OSDMA (The Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority) DGM Mr. Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra making statements that demonstrate the capability (and future?) of Disaster Mitigation.

For you to learn about HAM Radio and job opportunities it presents to HAM Radio operators - here is the text as it appeared in The Times of India Bhubaneswar. Please read it with a pinch of salt, pepper and whatever..

[update:] also note that this news item appeared a year back in 2008, published in southgatearc as well as in a newsletter. How the number of trained operators has increased from 100 to 291 is worth pondering. Perhaps only on the paper folks are being trained, and next year same time this number could be over 500... (other states should learn lessons in this regard)

Suggested read news item by The Statesman - aptly titled HAM Radio Fails to take off which would present the real picture of disaster management.

21 HAM RADIO INSTALLED IN TEN SEVEN DISTRICTS INCLUDING SIX COASTAL DISTRICTS

ASHIS SENAPATI, KENDRAPADA, DATE-23.7.09
The Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) installed 21 ham radios in ten districts including six coastal districts recently. Last year, the United Nation’s Development Project (UNDP) provided 21 ham radios to the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) to install in ten districts .Due to non-availability of first grade passed trained ham radio operators the installation of ham radios were delayed , said Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra the deputy general manager coordinator of Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) .

Orissa needs more ham radios as the amateur radio network can easily communicate when other communication services fail during any natural disasters like cyclone, tsunami, storm and earthquake for which OSDMA installed two ham radios in the districts of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam , Cuttack, Khurda, Jajpur , Koraput and kept one ham radio in the office of OSDMA in Bhubanswar , said Mohaparta.
The scientists and officials of National Institute of Amateur Radio ( NIAR ) , Hyderabad trained 291 youths of the state in 2007-08 to operate ham radio during emergency periods. The Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) sought the help of NIAR to provide training to them.

Ham radio is language of sound. Many youths after getting Ham radio training got good jobs in many private mobile phone companies like Reliance and TATA and government jobs in wireless departments of police, army and railway for which we faced shortage of proper ham radio operators said Mohapatra.

Many youths learnt the operation of ham radio during the month long training. First grade passed students will only get permission from the authority to operate ham radios by forming radio clubs. The central ministry of Communication and Information and technology will issue licenses to first grade passed students to run ham radio club added. The second grade passed ham radio operator can operate ham radio but can not form ham radio club, Mohapatra.

Mobile phone towers are not safe at the time of cyclone for which ham radio is a necessary during any natural disasters. A bamboo stick can be operated as an antenna for a ham radio and one can sent messages throughout globe through ham radios, added Mohapatra.

Since 1983, NIAR in pursuit of meeting its objectives has achieved remarkable milestones for promotion of amateur radio in the country. The events conducted over the last 25 years encompass wide range of activities such as awareness and training programes , seminars, and conventions, polices and promotional activities by providing emergency communications for disaster management. The vision of NIAR is to take ham or amateur radio to the rural areas as part of education, skill development and emergency management. By doing so they empower youth in our state to self learn, experiment and inter communicate so as to become self employed and better employed, added Mohapatra.

And here is the paper scan of this wonderful news item

Kudos to the government for efficiency in the system, the supporting organizations that are providing trained HAM radio operators and for job opportunities that are available thanks to HAM Radio. I got my ticket in '95 and looking for suitable opportunity with any of the companies listed - Any Takers?

Special Thanks to Times News Network to bring so much joy to me as I write this post, and to 'eminent' Journalist for his pioneering work in the field of technology and innovation reporting an year old news without even bothering to check the ground reality.  No amount of words can be said for officials of OSDMA who can make a bamboo 'stick' work as an antenna during disaster - my strong recommendation for Nobel prize to all those who have made it possible.

With contribution from:

• OrissaLive Portal
• The Times of India.
• UNDP
• Item published in a Newsletter in Aug 2008 page#9
  
• Southgate ARC release in July 2008
• Real Status From - The Statesman

This post has caused some concerned parties to write in to us with positive and negative feedback. The purpose of this post is - to highlight state of in-efficiency in the system, when money is spent no doubt but the real purspose of spending money and time and training is wasted and everything goes down the drain. It shouldn't take another disaster for us to learn how to manage things. Unfortunately publicity and press release - does not offer any hope when the real situation needs action on the ground. I am sure Orissa and all over India we do have trained and sensible HAM operators who can rush to provide relief only if right equipment is present or made available to them.

Also do note, bamboo stick is non-radiating support structure used for making a base/ structure for making an antenna and can never be a substitue for an antenna. That this 'mistake' has been going on for years - talks about the caliber of the wise in all walks of life who have released this news items time and again in various channels.