|
Remarkable
Achievement
 Community
radio program ‘Chala Ho Gaon Mein’ initiated by
Alternative for India Development in the regions of Palamau,
Garhwa and Latehar districts of Jharkhand completed its 500th
episode on 18th May 2007. The programme was first aired on 5th
August 2001 from AIR Daltonganj. Since then it has accomplished a
milestone in the annals of community radio broadcasting in India.
A single community based sponsored program in India from any AIR
station has completed its remarkable 500 episodes without any
external or internal disturbance. Its greatest achievement have
been the participation of grassroots communities in making their
own radio program by giving voice to local governance and social
issues through local dialects.
Astounding
coverage
Since
its inception in the year 2001, the program has acknowledged the
involvement of people across the villages of three districts of
Palamau, Garhwa and Latehar in Jharkhand. Nearly 48,000 people so
far have been registered annually through various field programs
by means of their participation, discussion and advocacy to
resolve the problems through radio. Nearly 32,000 local artists
have given performance in the radio programs. The program has also
been acknowledged as being providing the wider outreach of more
than 7 million populations across the three districts, Palamau,
Garhwa and Latehar of Jharkhand and its neighbouring states of UP,
Bihar, Chattisgarh. The record number of an average 300 feedback
letters per week has added another feather in its cap of
popularity in the region.
Activities on the
occasion
On the eve of the completion of 500 episodes of community radio
program ‘Chala Ho Gaon Mein’ on 6th may 2007, a emphasis
was made on disseminating the accomplishment and received massive
participation and attention to a wider reach across the audience
and regions.
Special announcements were made about broadcasting an exclusive
episode on 16th May, 2007 about the mileage covered by the program
in these six years. The episode prepared in retrospect presented
the experience of the first episode recorded in Kamalpur village
of Lesliganj block in Palamau district that extended to other
regions like Gonda village in Meral of Garhwa and Ranki Kala of
Manika block in Latehar district.
The program highlighted the perception of people and how this
program influenced their personal and social life, village and
area development, brought about change in their qualitative life,
succeeded in accessing with various welfare programs and how the
program had been instrumental in curbing and influencing on social
and governance issues.
An entry has been registered through the mail in Limca book of
World records for acknowledging the outstanding achievement on
16th may, 2007 (awaiting for response)
An Exhibition was arranged on Community radio activities of
‘Chala Ho Gaon Mein’ photographs were displayed. Other
activities included a film show of Community radio in Jharkhand
and the cultural program performed by the cultural team of Garhwa
and Palamau.
The Chief Guest, the Civil Surgeon of Palamau, Shri R. P. Singh
and the Special Guest, Mr. Sankar Ram - the Director of the AIR-Daltonganj
graced the occasion.
Anchoring the function were the radio narrators Phulua Behen and
Raju Bhaiyya of Chao Ho Gaon Mein fame.
Speaking on this occasion the Chief Guest commended the role
community radio is playing in creating awareness and raising the
issues to bring about the changes for good delivery system of the
government. He expressed radio as a medium of change that could
help in transforming the society.
The guests also released the second edition of the community radio
newsletter ‘Voice to the Voiceless’.
The Listener’s Club of Bahuraha, Meral, Kamalpur from Garhwa
District; Lesliganj from Palamau and Ranki Kala, Manika from
Latehar were awarded for their active role in participating and
raising issues that have brought about some positive changes in
the region. Local artists from the region were also awarded for
their outstanding contribution in script writing, song and drama
participation.
Value addition
All India Radio National News bulletin covered the news event on
17th evening at 7.00pm & 8.00 pm and on 19th may both in Hindi and
English news program about the remarkable achievements of ‘chala
ho gaon mein’ on completing its 500 episodes in Jharkhand aired by
Daltonganj AIR. |
