On August 27, 2019, The 7th Community Radio Sammelan for the year 2019 was inaugurated by Shri Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at Dr. BR Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi in the presence of the representatives of all operational Community Radio Stations across India along with senior officials of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. It was held from August 27-29, 2019 and was organized by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The theme of this year’s Sammelan is ‘Community Radio for SDGs’ (Sustainable Development Goals).
i. Other initiatives: The minister inaugurated a poster exhibition of Community Radio Stations. A short film on the step by step process for setting up of Community Radio Station was also launched on the occasion.
ii. Plenary sessions: The plenary sessions on “The SDG Journey – leaving no one behind” was chaired by Shri Rakesh Ranjan, Senior Consultant, Niti Aayog, and a session on “Community Radio: Issues, Ideas and Experiences” was chaired by Ms. Esther Kar, Former Director General, Press Information Bureau. This session focussed on content management, research, production, broadcasting and dissemination of content through social media.
Shri Prakash Javadekar presented National Awards for Community Radio for 2018 and 2019
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar presented the National Awards for Community Radio for 2018 and 2019. He also released the booklet “Jan Connect: Clear Intentions, Decisive Actions” on key decisions taken by the Government in the first 75 days of its second tenure. The booklet has been brought out by Bureau of Outreach and Communication, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The Awards for the years 2018 and 2019 were given in the following five categories:
- Thematic
- Community Engagement
- Promoting Local Culture
- Most Creative/Innovative
- Sustainability Category
List of Awardees
| Thematic Category | ||
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| First prize | Radio Namaskar, Odisha Programme: Ama Khadya | Friends Radio, Tripura Programme: Health and Women |
| Second prize | Radio Sharda, Jammu & Kashmir Programme: Wangegvoor | Salaam Namaste, Uttar Pradesh Programme: Salaam Shakti |
| Third prize | Radio MGIRI, Maharashtra Programme: Unch Majha Zoka | i. Waqt Ki Awaaz, Uttar Pradesh Programme: Chaukanni Chaardiwari ii. Alfaz-e-Mewat, Haryana Programme: Kanoon Ki Baat |
| Community Engagement Category | ||
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| First prize | Radio Madhuban, Rajasthan Programme: Nanhe Sitare | Radio Namaskar, Odisha Programme: Ama Priya Pakhala |
| Second prize | Kisan Radio, Uttar Pradesh Programme: Chalo Gaon Ki Aur | Pant Nagar Janvani, Uttarakhand Programme: Ye Kahan Aa Gaye Hum |
| Third prize | Radio Pragya, Uttar Pradesh Programme: Ladies First | KRDA Community Ente Radio, Kerala Programme: Sneha Sena |
| Promoting Local Culture Category | ||
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| First prize | Pant Nagar Janvani, Uttarakhand Programme: Anchal Ki Surabhi | Radio Madhubhan, Rajasthan Programme: Gaon Ri Baten |
| Second prize | Radio Sharda, Jammu & Kashmir Programme: Peindh Te Purran | Radio Yerlavani, Maharashtra Local Cultural Programme |
| Third prize | Radio Madhuban, Rajasthan Programme: Opno Samaj | Radio Media Village, Kerala Programme: Nattu Nanma |
| Most Creative/Innovative Category | ||
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| First prize | Sanjha Radio, Haryana Programme: Sports Ki Baat Sanjha Radio Ke Sath, | Radio Sarang, Karnataka Programme: Antarabelaku |
| Second prize | Radio Media Village, Kerala Programme: Sukritham | Samudayik Rudi No Radio, Gujarat Programme: Vasant Panchami |
| Third prize | i. Radio Pragya, Uttar Pradesh Programme: Master Mind ii. Radio Namaskar, Odisha Programme: Sishu Hasile Duniya Hasiba | KSR Community Radio, Tamil Nadu Programme: Mattram |
| Sustainability Category | ||
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| First prize | Radio Mattoli, Kerala | Sanjha Radio, Haryana |
| Second prize | Sanjha Radio, Haryana | Radio Media Village, Kerala |
DoT allocates two additional dedicated frequencies for running Community Radio – 89.6 and 90.0 MHz
Shri Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting informed that Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications has agreed to dedicate 2 additional frequencies viz. 89.6 and 90.0 MHz for running Community Radio Stations. Recent hike in advertisement rates for print and electronic media, the advertisement rates for Community Radio will be revised by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication within 2 months.
- Community Radio Cell will be set up in the Ministry for grievance redressal and collating actionable suggestions received from stakeholders.
- Media and Communication Plan of all Ministries of the Government must include Community Radio to leverage their deeper ground level penetration.
- Compendium of all the programmes running on Community Radio Stations all across the country released by Union Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar will be distributed to all District Collectors to sensitize them for utilization of Communication Radio in their local communication endeavours.
- National Sammelan will be held annually, along with Regional Sammelans which be held in different corners in India.
About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting:
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Constituency of Shri Prakash Javadekar: Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh