NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 21, 2004
IANS

An attempt to reach out to the Indian diaspora via the airwaves of Australia is drawing attention as an "encouraging success story".

Indian expatriates in Australia can hear their own languages on the air - even if only for a few hours each week.

Australia officially argues that community radio initiatives can play a role in enhancing the mutual understanding and cooperative spirit that underpins the tolerant and harmonious Australian society.

For instance, the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council (NEMBC), representing ethnic broadcasters from 104 stations, puts out 1,700 hours of local programming in more than 100 languages every week.

Seven of these are from India - Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati and Marathi.