Pyaar, judaai, dhokha: What Meerut jail inmates request on radio

Meerut district jail's Radio Parvaaz is drawing daily inmate requests for old Hindi songs on love and loss. Officials say the broadcasts are reducing stress and supporting rehabilitation through music and life-skills content.According to the Meerut jail administration, several women inmates have children living outside the prison and prefer songs that remind them of their families and children. (Representative image)Old Hindi film songs about love, separation and betrayal are the most requested tracks at Meerut district jail, where an internal radio station called Radio Parvaaz plays inmates' song requests every day. Launched on May 8, the station has become a regular source of entertainment and engagement for inmates housed at the jail.The station is run with the help of an inmate who serves as the radio jockey after being trained by the India Vision Foundation. Along with requested songs, the broadcasts also carry motivational talks, programmes on life skills and emotional intelligence, social awareness content, cultural activities and real-life stories of change.Meerut Senior Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma told PTI on Sunday that the jail administration had provided space for the radio station, while the India Vision Foundation had set up the equipment. Inmates submit their song requests through slips a day in advance, and the selected songs are played the following day. The inmate's name is not announced during the broadcast and only the barrack number is mentioned.Songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are the most sought after. Male inmates often ask for songs based on love, separation and betrayal, along with devotional songs and melodies linked to life's circumstances. Among women inmates, songs about love and emotional pain are popular. There is also considerable demand for songs associated with mothers, children and families. According to the jail administration, several women inmates have children living outside the prison and prefer songs that remind them of their families and children.The jail currently houses around 1,900 male and 63 female inmates. Among the high-profile women prisoners lodged in Barrack No. 12 of the Chaudhary Charan Singh District Jail is Muskan Rastogi, who allegedly killed her husband and stuffed the pieces of his body in a blue drum. Other women inmates include Damini Panwar, Ravita Kashyap, Komal and Anjali Kumari. Their cases are linked to alleged extramarital or romantic relationships and accusations of murdering their husbands. "Since the radio was launched, we have seen enthusiasm among the inmates and receive different song requests every day," Sharma said. He said music and a positive environment could help reduce mental stress among inmates and contribute to their reform and rehabilitation. The radio station is equipped with computers, a mixer, high-tech speakers and a Saregama Carvaan.Speakers have been installed in all barracks, and the station broadcasts for around two hours each in the morning and evening. Interested inmates are also given a chance to come to the studio and sing songs.India Vision Foundation Director Monica Dhawan and Prison Programme Head Ravi Kumar Srivastava said the organisation is a registered voluntary, non-profit and non-governmental body. According to the foundation, it runs 11 Radio Parvaaz centres in Uttar Pradesh prisons, including Agra District Jail, Agra Central Jail, Ghaziabad District Jail, Gautam Buddh Nagar District Jail, Bulandshahr District Jail, Moradabad District Jail, Varanasi Central Jail, Azamgarh District Jail, Meerut District Jail, Saharanpur District Jail and Lucknow District Jail.The initiative is meant to provide entertainment while encouraging positive thinking, life skills and social awareness among inmates as they prepare to return to mainstream society.At Meerut district jail, Radio Parvaaz has emerged as a daily platform for music, participation and outreach, with old Hindi songs and family-themed tracks reflecting the emotions and preferences of the inmates.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 23, 2026 12:33 IST