Mumbai: In line with the year 2008’s theme for World AIDS Day -Take The Lead, Stop AIDS. Keep The Promise, BIG 92.7 FM has pledged to keep the promise of leading the efforts of Indians in fighting AIDS. For the purpose, BIG FM has created comprehensive plans across its network of 44 stations.

In Mumbai, BIG FM shall kick-start Sirf ek se pyar campaign. Through the campaign BIG FM shall urge Mumbai residents to keep the promise they made to their no. 1 partners by remaining faithful to them. Smita Thackeray, well-known for her contribution to the cause, shall visit BIG FM studio on World AIDS Day, endorsing the campaign and the cause.

To mark the day, BIG FM, Hyderabad along with various college students & APSACS (Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society) will take out a procession, a Red Rally from their office to Wesley College, with film actor Rajshekar at the front. Debates, speeches and short dramas will all be a part of the programme and the emphasis would be on bringing HIV positive people back into the mainstream society. The station hopes to discourage people from discriminating against AIDS victims through its efforts.

In Kanpur, BIG FM shall organise an Inter College Nukkad Natak Competition, based on AIDS awareness. BIG FM shall select skits with an appealing AIDS awareness jingle and the winners will get a chance to be on-air with BIG RJs, sharing their views, playing their jingles, thus creating awareness about the disease. Besides this, IMA shall take out an AIDS awareness procession led by BIG RJ Peeyush.

As part of the World AIDS Day programme, BIG FM Allahabad shall organise an Inter College Drawing and Painting competition based on a social message. The best painting will be gifted to the Allahabad AIDS society.

A poster/slogan competition, a quiz competition and an education gallery on AIDS will be organised by BIG FM and Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal. The posters & slogans will later form part of an AIDS awareness procession.  BIG RJs shall encourage people on and off-air to donate blood at the Blood Donation Camp that will be held on 1 December in Gandhi Medical College premises.

BIG FM in Gwalior shall organise a Zinda Hoon Main campaign in collaboration with the Family Planning Association of India, aimed at encouraging people to treat HIV+ patients with love and care. The slogan for the campaign would be Fight AIDS, not the AIDS victims. This will be an all encompassing campaign, looking at spreading awareness about AIDS and also helping AIDS victims. A signature campaign will get people to pledge that they will not discriminate against AIDS victims, will instead help them overcome their sufferings. They will also promise to stay away from the deadly virus.

An AIDS Awareness & Screening Camp, in the presence of Gujarat Health Minister, shall be jointly organised by BIG FM Surat and GSNPA (Gujarat State Network of People living with AIDS), to observe World AIDS Day. At a Shraddhaanjali programme later in the day, people will be invited to pay homage to the deceased AIDS victims and also pledge their support in curbing the spread of AIDS. Each person shall light a lamp and set it floating in the waters of River Tapi after taking the pledge.

Vadodara BIG FM shall rope in the children from New Era School to convey the AIDS awareness message to Vadodarites. Each student & BIG FM staff member shall bring a red ribbon bearing their signature & a promise to take the lead in fighting AIDS.  These ribbons will then be joined together to create a BIG RED RIBBON at a public square, to draw public attention and encourage people to join in the cause.

In addition to the various on-ground events, some very informative and useful content will be played on air across BIG FM network.

Commenting on BIG FM’s role on the issue BIG 92.7 FM vice president programming Nirupam Sonu said “AIDS is one of those rare conditions, for which medical science is yet to find a cure. Another reason that makes it rare is the fact that people contract it out of ignorance…ignorance about how it is caused and ignorance about its deadliness. Bottom line is to make everyone aware about AIDS, to rid them of their ignorance. This is where we see ourselves playing an important role. Being country’s largest FM network, we are well placed in spreading the message for public good faster and more effectively than any other medium. Through our AIDS Awareness campaign, we aim to indulge in communications by winning attention and involvement of our listeners, bring the spirit of Staying HIV Negative to life in a distinctive way, genuinely motivate listeners, and ultimately lead them to act. After all, our brand philosophy is to make people’s lives …perhaps we could add – safer, healthier. Suno Sunao, Life Bano”.