WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY-2024
Sougata Saha, VU3HJZ
April 17, 2024, 13:04:41
Every year 18th April celebrated globally as World
Amateur Radio Day. The theme of this year’s World Amateur Radio Day is "A
Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community,
and Advocacy". On World Amateur
Radio Day, all radio amateurs are invited to take to the airwaves to enjoy our
global friendship with other amateurs, and to show our skills and capabilities
to the public.
April 18, 1925 the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was formed in Paris by 25 countries in
International Radiotelegraph Conference. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has
recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Radio Amateurs. To mark
the foundation day of IARU every year 18th April celebrated as
“World Amateur Radio Day”.
IARU celebrates its centenary in 2025. Since its founding in Paris,
France, IARU has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in amateur radio and
to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout
the world.
Leading up to the centenary year, we the licensed amateur operator’s
should take time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of radio amateurs
over the last 100 years. While the Amateur Services have been in operation for
over a century, 1924 was the first year that intercontinental amateur
communication became more or less commonplace. Since that time radio amateurs
have made unparalleled advances in technology related to the Amateur Services
that play a critical role today in sustaining world-wide communications and
allow us to respond to global emergencies.
Any individual above the age of 12 can become an
Amateur Radio operator-no matter what age, gender or physical ability. Amateur
Radio Operators have to qualify in an examination conducted by Ministry of
Communications & IT, Government of India and obtain license for operating /
possessing a Radio Station. The
rules and protocols of Amateur Radio in India are enforced by the Wireless Planning
Commission of the Ministry of Telecommunication, Govt. of India. A Wireless Communication network through Amateur
Radio is one of the most effective and alternate medium of communication and
can play a significant role in providing reliable communications when other
normal communications fails. The skills of the trained amateur radio operator
can be used for public service in times of need and emergencies. In
numerous occasions, under extreme circumstances, very efficient amateur radio
communication and humanitarian assistance was provided by Hams particularly
during COVID-19 management, Fani Cyclone, Uttarkhand Floods 2012, Aila
cyclone-2009, Krishna floods-2009, Indian Ocean Tunami-2004, Gujarat
Earthquake-2001, Orissa Super Cyclone-1999 and many other natural / man-made
calamities in the country.
In a developing country like ours it is more than
necessary to use such technologies, which is not only cost effective but also
maintain a resource of skilled and talented personnel at village level. Where
people themselves can better organise for their local needs which is the main
criterion during disasters.
In India National
Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) encourage the use of HAM Radio in Disaster
management Communication and HAM Radio Communication is utilised to co ordinate
with the multi agency during Disaster. In Tripura first Amateur Station
Operator’s Certificate (ASOC) & license was generated by Government of
India in the year 2017 with callsign VU3HVU and in the same year Tripura HAM
Radio Club Station was accredited by the Wireless Planning & Coordination unit
under Ministry of Telecommunication, Govt. of India. Since 2017 Tripura HAM
Radio Club with the support of Revenue Department, Government of Tripura provides
training to the interested candidates to appear ASOC examination and WPC
officials of Ministry of Communication, Govt. of India also arranged the exam
at Agartala. Nearly 350 candidates comprising of govt. officials &
Volunteers already got their license from Govt. of India.
Tripura Government already setup HAM Radio
Station in District Emergency Control Room as well as State Emergency control
Room to facilitate the Disaster Communication as our state is under Zone V and
earthquake prone area. Our trained licensed volunteers regularly participated
in mock drill arranged time to time by the SDMA & NDMA.
(Tripurainfo)