The first online radio for 'Halal' entertainment in Kashmir will commence operation in the next few days.
The radio has been named Saut-ul-Islam — the voice of Islam. The initiative has been mostly funded by donations from volunteers.
Trained staff, including jockeys, have already been hired for the job. The radio is presently carrying out dry runs to iron out any shortcomings.
It's founder-director Muhammad Aamir said that the radio has been launched with an intention to address issues confronting Kashmiri youth.
The radio aims to discuss issues like the importance of nikah (marriage) in life, late marriages and re-marriage of widows.
It will also arrange for panel discussions, where scholars would present their views on various issues the people were facing.
In summers, the radio plans to hold a contest on the lines of Indian Idol by inviting youth to showcase their talents.
The station was to be inaugurated in the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr last July, but due to the separatist uprising, it was postponed until December 2016.
“We have started recording programmes and our first video was uploaded recently, said Aamir. ''It evoked a good response and was appreciated by many people,” Aamir said.
Aamir, who is the chairman of Islamic Global School at Rajbagh in Srinagar, said the idea to start an Islamic FM radio struck him after the growing clamour about 'degeneration’ of Kashmiri youth.
He said he could not do it alone and sought help from like-minded people and friends.
“There was a consensus that a radio station would be the right to way to connect the youth, given the craze for FM among them,'' he said.
Saut-ul-Islam is easily accessible in both Android and Apple platforms.
The radio has an optional app called ‘Ask us’. "We will have Islamic scholars responding to listeners’ questions," Aamir said. The radio’s programmes will also include lectures by Islamic scholars.