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A regional level workshop on
Community radio was conducted by Alternative for India Development
at Garhwa and Jamshedpur in the state of Jharkhand. The objectives
of the workshop was to create awareness about the community radio
concepts and practices and encourage NGOs and CBOs to set up radio
stations in view of the Government of India’s recent policy change
for setting up radio stations in the country.
The first in the series of the
workshop in the eastern India was held at Meral in the district of
Garhwa from 3rd to 5th July 2007.
The Chief Guest
 on this occasion was
the Ex Minister and the MLA Mr. Girinath Singh. The Guest of
Honour was Mr. Shankar Ram, the Programme Director of All India
Radio, Daltonganj and the District Resident Editor of Prabhat
Khabar, Mr. Vinod Pathak and Ms. Nimmi Chouhan, Secretary in
charge- CR forum- Ahmedabad were the special guest.
Participants from Jharkhand, UP, Bihar, Chattisgarh and Orissa
representing 23 organizations and about 43 persons participated in
the workshop.
The workshop began with the highlights on the best practices of CR
intervention of AID in the state of Jharkhand. A step by step
process of setting up the radio station, training, community
participation and its sustainability was explained to the
participants. Technological applications of setting up low cost,
alternative options, accessing and sourcing of equipments and
vendors were also explained.
The workshop highlighted the recent policy change and provided
details on the policy guidelines- its ethics and code of
broadcast; eligibility criteria for licensing process, funding and
sustenance.
Ms. Nimmi Chouhan, who chaired an interactive session presented
the history of CR and highlighted the growing popularity of CR
forum in India- its structure and membership and updated with
regard to setting up of CR station and guidelines and licensing
process taken by CR forum-India.
 An organized field visit to Bauraha and Khajuri villages gave a
face to face interaction of participants with the villagers and
listener’s clubs.
Mr. Shankar Ram presented his view on AIR broadcasting, code and
ethics. The Executive Secretary of AID, Mrs. Sunanda K.S.
explained about AID intervention and the success model of running
community radio in context to the social, cultural and economical
aspects of the region.
Splendid cultural program was organized by the team of CR program-
'Chala Ho Gaon Mein'.
The second in the series of
 the
workshop was held in Jamshedpur from 7th to 9th July at TRF
colony, Harharguttu, Jamshedpur. 21 organizations with 45 persons
participated in this workshop covering the states of Jharkhand,
Orissa and West Bengal.
Mr. M.V. Vijayan, Under Secretary, Ministry of I&B as the Chief
Guest graced the occasion. Mr. LP Singh, Asst Director (Tech.) -
Ministry of I&B was the special guest. They presented the policy
guidelines and transmission issues during the workshop.
Mrs. Sunanda K.S., Trustee and Chairperson, AID, explained the initial experiences of CR program, its
success and impact in reducing child labour, migration, child
marriage and its attempt on prevention of HIV and AIDs and raising
health issues in the region and how CR initiatives have expanded
in the state of Orissa.
Mr. Ashish Bhatnagar, Dy. Director and EO to Engineer in Chief,
AIR, New Delhi as the Guest of Honour presented the CR
radio low cost technological options and updated with the
information on accessing the equipments and vendors in India and
aboard. |
