The Bold and Courageous Correspondent award was given away this evening to All India Radio special correspondent, Colombo Kanchan Prasad and Kabul, Santosh Kumar. K.L. Sharma best correspondent award had gone to Hyderabad correspondent M.S. Lakshmi.

Best News Editor of the year 2009 award has been jointly given to Madan Kumar, News Editor, Delhi and Lovelin Nigam, News Editor, HNR Sports scan. 64 employees of Akashvani received awards in 32 categories.

Giving away the Awards at Akashvani Annual Awards 2009 function in Chandigargh Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil remembered his bonding with Radio in his young days. He said the public broadcaster can be useful in educating the people of the country including new generation.

Addressing the gathering Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that the next goal of the government will be to create a living museum of Akashvani at New Broadcasting House in New Delhi showcasing the heritage of All India Radio since 1936.

She said two phases of auctioning private FM channel has been completed and the third phase will be announced soon in which 800 FM stations will be auctioned all over India.