The district panchayat has drawn up a plan to promote the service of Ham radio in the district in consideration of its importance during emergency situations especially in remote areas. This has become more relevant in the wake of the Pulmedu stampede inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve during the last Sabarimala pilgrimage season, said district panchayat president Alex Kozhimala.
When the calamities including land slips and road blockades occur, it will help in speedy passage of information so that emergency help is made available there, he said and added that during the last local bodies elections in the remote tribal grama panchayat of Edamalakkudy, it was the Ham radio that provided the first information regarding the progress of elections and arrangements there.
He said that still vast areas especially inside the forest is uncovered by mobile services the Ham radio service will be an easy option for communication and also the services of the Ham will be utilised when in a situation where the official level help is delayed due to inaccessibility. He said that a project report has been prepared and in this annual projects of the district panchayat, an amount will be set aside for promoting Ham radio.
Training will also be given to the ham radio operators to streamline their services in the district, he said.
