To increase awareness about setting up of Community Radio stations, a two- day Community Radio awareness workshop was inaugurated by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with CommonwealthEducational Media Centre for Asia, New Delhi and Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, in Guwahati today.The workshop saw participation from the states of Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, Mizoram and West Bengal. About 45 grassroot community-based organizations and educational institutions working on social and developmental issues in these states, took part in the workshop.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Das, Vice Chancellor of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, highlighted the role played by communityradio in publicizing various news and information to the community at large. He said that the efficiency and effectiveness of the teaching -learning process has beenmade easy through the use of media more specifically community media. The community radio serves as a resourcefor education and awareness, disseminating important information on different issues.
The inaugural address of the workshop was delivered by Shri C. Senthil Rajan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He discussed about the exponential growth of the community radio scenario in the country. He stated that the medium of communityradio enables individuals, groups and communities narrate their own stories, share experiences and become content creators, specifically on issues popular and relevant to a localaudience. He said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India had come up with two main initiatives in order to strengthen the community radio sector in the country – (i) Identifying lead community radio stations which would act as a guide or mentor to other CR stations in functioning without any hassles and (ii) Special scheme for providing finance for the setting up of community radio stations.
In his opening remarks, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, CEMCA, New Delhi highlighted the proactive role played by the different community radio stations which will go a long way in spreading awareness among the people at the grassroots level.
Sh. G.S Kesarwani, Additional Director (CRS), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting , gave a brief overview of the growth of community radio in India, the initiatives taken up by the Ministry and the way forward.
A participant of the workshop, Ms. Supriya Mahanta, from Vikramshila Education Resource Society said that the workshop provided valuable insights into the working of a community radio station. She looks forward to enriching herself and her organisation with the scope of establishing a community radio and collaborating for engaging content.
Another participant, Ms. Trishna Borkakati, Director, Surge-I Foundation, Nagaon was quite optimistic afterlistening to the deliberations of working out a blue print for setting up of community radio station in her native place.
There was also a poster exhibition of five community radio stations for the benefit of all the participants.
The Community Radio Sector has seen tremendous growth in the last 9 years. The number of Community Radio Stations has increased from 140 to 467, more than 300% growth in the last 9 years. The Community Radio Workshop aimed to cover Community Radio Dark Districts. The details policy guidelines for setting up of Community Radio Stations can be found here https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/Guidelines%202006.pdf
