Kadal Osai 90.4 (Sound of the Sea) is the world's only FM radio station run by fishermen. It has transformed the lives of the 100,000 people living on the remote and tiny island of Pamban, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, from where it broadcasts.
Launched in 2016 by fisherman Armstrong Fernando, Kadal Osai’s dozen-odd production team comprises mostly fishermen, who research, report, present and disseminate news in the local language 24/7. Everything is covered, from timely weather updates about storms and cyclones to advice for fishermen about fertile fishing zones to help them boost their daily haul, social messages about children’s education, and women’s empowerment and job vacancies.
Fernando, who is well versed in the problems the community faces, started the Nesakarangal Charitable Trust in 2010 to support families who had lost members in marine accidents. He helped them to get jobs or financial aid from the government.
The launch of the radio station took his philanthropic mission further. “We help create alternate livelihoods and raise awareness about societal issues and marine conservation, such as endangered sea turtles which get caught in fishing nets,” he tells The National. “In a special initiative, Radio Kadal Osai has also launched an award for fishermen ― INR 1,000 ($13.35) if they release trapped turtles back into the ocean.
“Our work is as much to safeguard our community from the sea as to protect the sea from the people,” Fernando adds. “Earlier, just by looking at the sea, we could make weather forecasts. But climate change has made such predictions increasingly tough. We face problems identifying wind patterns, water levels and potential fishing zones. But still, we do our best.”
The station’s awareness campaigns have also helped to reduce littering on the island while keeping the community informed about sustainable fishing practices and environmental pollution. “We also regularly broadcast programmes on climate change as well as government loans and subsidies which fishermen can avail of,” says Fernando.
Kadal Osai’s sustained campaign about Covid-19 was also enormously successful in helping to raise awareness about practices to keep down infection rates. Volunteers say that due to a lack of authentic information, people used to shun contact with the infected rather than treat them properly.
“Fake news was rampant and since most householders don’t subscribe to newspapers, the problem was exacerbated,” one of the channel's DJs says. “However, the station’s programmes helped the locals become more aware about the dreaded virus and save lives.”
There’s entertainment, too. Traditional music is played daily as are broadcasts of skits with a social message about the importance of hygiene or education. Information about government schemes and vacancies are also shared, along with the location of local vaccination camps, and more.
Initially, the community was wary about the station’s purpose and intent, but they have gradually warmed to the team. Now, veteran fishermen are happy to go on air and share their life experiences, as well as talk about topics such as building alternative livelihoods and money management. Community achievers feature regularly in broadcasts to tell their success stories and motivate others.
Fisherman Muthukumar, 45, a father of two, says the station is prompt in sharing information that can help the community, particularly government welfare schemes and job vacancies. “Since we’re not well educated, we used to miss out on these benefits earlier, but not any more.”
Legal experts are often invited to share their knowledge about law-related matters and answer fishermen’s queries about marine law, property disputes and more. Last August, the channel collaborated with Unicef for a narrowcasting session on breastfeeding and complementary nutrition as well as Covid awareness.
Singing, music and poetry sessions, as well as trivia about the island and marine life, make the channel’s content engaging and interactive. “We try to be as inclusive as possible and have something to interest all age groups, including children,” says Aflec Fernando, a volunteer and the founder's nephew. “In special segments, children discuss their school life and their ambitions. General knowledge quizzes test the knowledge of the young ones. The radio also announces scholarships and grants for their higher education.”
To make it all work, the channel depends on rent earned from shops housed in a building owned by the trust, Aflec says. “All team members and the founder also contribute from their personal salaries to run the channel’s day-to-day operations. We also work on a project-to-project basis with various international organisations, like Unicef, to boost our income.”
Kadal Osai has inventively made use of the power of social media to help the community. Its Instagram account (13,000 followers) regularly shares updates about disasters and mishaps where public or government help may be required. Last December, the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Montus on the island was widely publicised to garner support.
In November, on World Fisheries Day, the channel organised a successful beach-cleaning drive around the island in which hundreds enthusiastically took part. The station’s campaigns to save marine life, including huge whales, have inspired other communities to take care of their own environment.
“All in all, it's been a very challenging but fulfilling journey,” Armstrong Fernando says. “We hope to continue doing good work and contribute in our own little way to make this world a better place.”
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Honeymoonish
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
Range: 520km (claimed)
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
