MUMBAI: The annual award function of the public broadcaster All India Radio witnessed its stations across the country being acknowledged for their work in various categories. While other cities received some boost from the win, AIR Mumbai failed to bag a trophy at the ceremony.

While Mumbai faced disappointment, AIR Osmanabad in Maharashtra bagged two awards, namely Best Part Time Correspondent West Zone by Devidas Pathak and the second Best Maintained Difficult Station.

Another surprise win was that of AIR Delhi’s FM Gold channel head Danish Iqbal who won the Gandhian Philosophy award as producer for the show ‘Sandarbhon Ke Akashdeep’. Iqbal was suspended on 10 April by Prasar Bharati to ensure that a fair and transparent inquiry takes place in to charges of sexual and workplace harassment leveled by 25 radio jockeys.

The stations in the South and East zone won majority of the awards at the ceremony. Some of the major ones included Best Innovative Program titled ‘Tears’ for AIR Sambalpur (Orissa), Lassa Kaul Award for National Integration to AIR Bhadravathi (Karnataka), Best Training Institute (Program) to AIR Delhi, M L Manchanda Award for Best Difficult Station Maintained to AIR Banswara (Rajasthan), Best Maintained Major Station to AIR Yalahanka (Bangalore) and more.

Apart from that, the second segment of the ceremony also awarded trophies for Audience Research Survey to AIR Thiruvananthapuram and K L Sharma Best Correspondent Award to Manikant Thakur of AIR Delhi amongst others.

The ceremony was graced by Minister of Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari, Prasar Bharati chairperson Mrinal Pandey, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting secretary Uday Kumar Verma and Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar. The opening address of the function was delivered by AIR director general Leela Dhar Mandloi.

In his speech, Manish Tewari recalled the significant contribution made by All India Radio and Doordarshan in the promotion of national integration as India’s public service broadcaster.

The ceremony also included presentation of audio visual shows on the archives of All India Radio featuring a rare collection of audio recordings of the great Indian leaders, literary personalities, evergreen musicians and film celebrities of yesteryears. A film on the achievements of All India Radio during the past year was also showcased during the function.

Cultural programmes were also presented by renowned artists including Rekha Bhardwaj, budding singer Jasvinder Singh, Anushree Bonerjee and her troupe, Manjari Chaturvedi and Radhika Chopra.

The Akashvani Annual Awards were instituted in 1974 with a view to promote professional excellence and bring out the best from the staff working at various radio stations and installations.

The ceremony acknowledges radio plays, documentaries, musical productions, innovative programs and more. In each category, two prizes are awarded, the first carrying a prize money of Rs 10,000 for the producer and Rs 6000 for the production team. Different prize money is attributed to different categories at the ceremony.

The award ceremony was held at the auditorium of National Agriculture Science Centre Complex, IARI Pusa, New Delhi.