Students don RJ’s hat as Rayagada school launches Radio Bilesu

Koraput: At the Billesu SSD High School in tribal-dominated Rayagada district, a unique experiment is changing the way children look at education. Alongside their studies, students here have launched their very own web radio.

They have taken up the role of radio jockeys, presenting songs, stories, poems, experiences and programmes on tribal culture and traditions in their own voices. The result is Radio Bilesu – a school-based radio initiative that has created a sensation in the tribal belt, sparking curiosity and excitement among both children and adults.The initiative has been launched under the programme PARICHITI, a pilot project meant for high schools of Rayagada and Mayurbhanj districts.

As part of it, a tribal museum and language laboratory have been set up at Billesu High School, which is run by the SC and ST development department. A studio has also been established on the campus, where students record and produce a wide variety of programmes ranging from entertainment and folklore to discussions on culture and social awareness.

All of these have become hugely popular among local listeners.“Earlier, we would record shows on our mobiles, but now we have a proper studio in our school.

It feels amazing to be part of something new. We love recording songs, plays and awareness talks during our free time,” Sambhudhar Jhodia, a Class X student who now works as a radio jockey, said.The driving force behind this initiative is National Teacher Award recipient Dwiti Chandra Sahu who encouraged the students to explore their talents beyond textbooks.“I always believed our tribal children have immense potential.

Radio Bilesu has become a platform to showcase their creativity. They are not just singing and telling stories but also spreading awareness on issues like tree plantation, child marriage, polythene-free environment and stopping shifting cultivation. It gives me great pride to see them turning into real radio jockeys,” Sahu said. “Once a month, the programmes are also uploaded on our YouTube channel,” he added.The content of Radio Bilesu is as diverse as it is engaging. From soulful songs and recitations to lively discussions on tribal traditions, each broadcast carries the children’s voices in unique styles. The project has also had a clear impact on learning. Teachers said that students are now more enthusiastic about school, spending extra time in classrooms and taking a greater interest in studies.Radio Bilesu is more than just a school project. It is reshaping young dreams. Many children who once feared studies are now looking ahead with new confidence. Listening to their own voices on the radio has inspired some to dream of becoming journalists, singers or anchors in the future. “Radio Bilesu has boosted our confidence and given us new dreams,” Sriya Paula, another student, said.The school, located about 25km from Rayagada town on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, has classes from I to X with an enrolment of 560 students.