Meena Radio is being broadcasting for the first time in Hindi in Uttar Pradesh, the countrys largest state with a population of 191 million comparable to that of Brazil. Each 15-minute program has a story, a song and a game designed to entertain school children while encouraging them to think.
Meena has existed as a popular cartoon character for decades throughout the region and is recognized in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as India.
The radio program targets young people between the ages of 11 and 14, an age where they are prone to drop out of the school. In UP, the dropout rate in primary school is 25 per cent, but rises to 55 per cent in upper primary school, with more girls dropping out of school than boys.
Meena Radio sedang menyiarkan untuk kali pertama di Hindi di Uttar Pradesh, negara terbesar negara dengan populasi 191 juta setanding dengan Brazil. Setiap program selama 15 minit mempunyai cerita, lagu dan permainan yang direka untuk menghiburkan anak-anak sekolah sambil menggalakkan mereka berfikir.
Meena telah wujud sebagai watak kartun yang popular selama beberapa dekad di seluruh rantau ini dan diiktiraf di Sri Lanka, Bangladesh dan Pakistan serta India.
Program radio mensasarkan kanak-kanak berusia antara 11 dan 14 tahun, usia yang mana mereka cenderung untuk keluar dari sekolah. Di UP, kadar keciciran di sekolah rendah adalah 25 peratus, tetapi meningkat kepada 55 peratus di sekolah rendah, dengan lebih ramai perempuan yang keluar dari sekolah berbanding lelaki.