The Govt. of India, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has given license to Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for running 40 FM stations (Gyan Vani 105.4 MHz) for the sole purpose of educational broadcasting. Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has nominated IGNOU as the nodal agency to implement the scheme, for which purpose Ministry of Telecommunications also allotted frequencies. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has agreed to offer all support in running the FM stations.

   IGNOU has been given right to identify and select the Partner institutions and negotiate and settle the terms with them for their cooperation. Netaji Subhas Open University has consequently been selected as one such partner institution. The Gyan Vani Kolkata FM channel was born of a Memorandum of Understanding signed recently between the two universities.

   Gyan Vani Kolkata, an FM Channel dedicated to education, set up by Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU), went on air at 4 p.m. July 7, 2003 from the University's new audio studio at Garcha Road. Prof. Satya Sadhan Chakraborty, Higher Education Minister, Govt. of West Bengal inaugurated the channel. Prof. H. P. Dikshit, Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Chairman, Distance Education Council (DEC) and Prof. Surabhi Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, Netaji Subhas Open University also delivered talks in the inaugural programme.Prof. Pabitra Sarkar, an eminent educationist and former Vice-Chairman, West Bengal Council of Higher Education was also present on the occasion. He was the first expert to talk on a specific subject on the channel.

Vision:  Gyan Vani Kolkata endeavours to bring about educational and social development of the community through radio. It seeks greater empowerment of the people, particularly the disadvantaged and physically challenged through their participation.

  
Mission:  The objective is to reach and hear millions using rich oral traditions, cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge system of the people by building larger collaborations and strengthening partnerships at a local level. Gyan Vani Kolkata will be an interactive, participatory, educational initiative to bridge the gaps between the educationally privileged and the deprived.

Programme Structure:  This layout chart is for Gyan Vani Kolkata as per our mission incorporating education and community development etc. Presently programme is being broadcast for 16 hours a day- 6 hours in the morning from 6am to 12noon and 10 hours in the evening from 1pm to 11 pm.

Programme Strategy:  It depends on the ingenuity of the Station Manager and the people involved to make the programmes interesting and useful by way of presentation and production, with the involvement of the students, young people, educational institutes and other organisations working in the field of education.

Besides education, there are a lot of subjects, which will be covered with adequate attention like Career Counselling, Employment News, Blind Friendly Programme, Adult Education, Women's Empowerment, Community Development, Rural Development, NGOs, Consumer Protection, Health Care, Sports and Mother & Child Care etc., which will help identify the Gyan Vani with the given area and the community. A good sample of folk song and music etc. will be given to make the programme format interesting and vivid in character.