Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, presented the 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards during the Inaugural Session of the two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan (North) at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi.

In his address, the Minister emphasized the significant role of Community Radio Stations in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Jan Bhagidari se Jan Andolan (People’s participation movement). He praised these stations for being instrumental in keeping their listeners informed during calamities, supplementing the efforts of Akashvani (All India Radio).

Despite facing challenges such as human resource shortages, financial constraints, and lack of external support, the Community Radio stations have continued to provide their valuable services to the nation. Anurag Thakur commended their spirit of national service and highlighted the importance of Community Radio in education, awareness generation, and problem-solving, especially in the remote corners of India. He expressed hope that the awards would inspire others to venture into this field.

The Minister also discussed the efforts made by the government to streamline the establishment of Community Radio stations, reducing the time taken to acquire licenses from around four years to six months. The application process is now available online on the Broadcast Seva Portal and connected to Saral Sanchar Portal.

Regarding the expansion of radio reach in India, Thakur informed that currently, 80% of the country’s geographical area and over 90% of the population are covered by radio. The government aims to further extend this reach, and the auction of 808 channels in 284 cities under the 3rd batch of e-auction is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

The increasing number of Community Radio Stations indicates their growing popularity. The government’s vision, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction, is to have a Community Radio station in each district and subsequently, in every block.

Thakur stressed the need for a platform to share experiences among Community Radio Stations across India, enabling them to exchange ideas and innovations to benefit the entire community. He envisioned a network that would harness the power of these stations’ ideas, creating a strong and collaborative community.

During the event, Secretary Apurva Chandra highlighted the enduring popularity and reach of Radio, especially Community Radio, which fulfills a need for connectivity not addressed by other modern media platforms. Due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry decided to present both the 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards this year.

The National Community Radio Awards were instituted by the Government of India to promote better programming and encourage Community Radio Stations to produce content in the interest of local communities. The awards recognize stations that have excelled in Community Radio Broadcasting through Community Centric Programmes, promoting sustainability, innovation, and citizen-participation.

Community Radio Stations play a crucial role in providing a platform for local voices on various issues such as health, nutrition, education, and agriculture. They contribute to community empowerment and preserve local folk music and cultural heritage. With 449 Community Radio Stations in the country, of which 70% are in rural areas, the government remains committed to empowering communities and ensuring their participation in the mainstream development process.

The 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards were conferred to outstanding stations from states like Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Tripura during the Community Radio Regional Sammelan held on National Broadcasting Day, 23rd July 2023. These awards serve as an acknowledgment of the remarkable work done by Community Radio Stations in the public interest.

The National Community Radio Awards carry 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prize for Rs, 1 Lakh, 75,000/= and 50,000/=respectively. Details of awardees are given below: –

Thematic Awards

First Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana; Name of Programme: Hope Jeene Ki Rah
Second Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambalpur, Odisha; Name of Programme: Adhar O PoshanBigyan
Third Prize: Green Radio, Sabour, Bihar; Name of Programme: PoshanShrinkhla

Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards

First Prize Radio SD, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of the programme: Hizra in Between
Second Prize Kabir Radio, Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of Program: Selfie Le Le Re
Third Award: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana Name of Programme: Book Bugs

Promoting Local Culture Awards

First Prize: Voice of SOA, Cuttack, Odisha; Name of Programme: Asmita
Second Prize: Friends FM, Tripura, Agartala; Name of Programme: Revived a dying art: MASK & POT
Third Prize: PantnagarJanvani, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand; Name of Program: Dadi Ma Ka Batua