The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, inaugurated the two-day Regional Community Radio(CR) Sammelan (North) at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi, Delhi on the occasion of National Broadcasting Day on 23rd July 2023.
- During the Inaugural Session, he presented the 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards to commendable Community Radio Stations (CRSs) that have made significant contributions in their field and for the public interest.
9th National Community Radio Awards:
The 9th National Community Radio Awards consists of 12 awards under 4 categories such as Thematic Awards, Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards, Promoting Local Culture Awards and Sustainability Model Awards.
- These prestigious awards recognize outstanding Community Radio Stations (CRS) from various states, including Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Tripura.
- The CSR played a key role in ‘Jan Bhagidari se Jan Andolan ’ (Public movement with Public Participation).
The National Community Radio Awards prize list:
- 1st- Rs. 1 Lakh
- 2nd- Rs. 75,000
- 3rd- Rs. 50,000
Winners Details of Awardees:
Thematic Awards:
- 1st Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana; Name of Programme: Hope Jeene Ki Rah
- 2nd Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambalpur, Odisha; Name of Programme: Adhar O Poshan Bigyan
- 3rd Prize : Green Radio, Sabour, Bihar; Name of Programme: Poshan Shrinkhla.
Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards:
- 1st : Radio SD, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of the programme: Hizra in Between
- 2nd : Kabir Radio, Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of Program: Selfie Le Le Re
- 3rd : Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana Name of Programme: Book Bugs.
Promoting Local Culture Awards:
- 1st: Voice of SOA, Cuttack, Odisha; Name of Programme: Asmita
- 2nd: Friends FM, Tripura, Agartala; Name of Programme: Revived a dying art: MASK & POT
- 3rd: PantnagarJanvani, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand; Name of Program: Dadi Ma Ka Batua.
Sustainability Model Awards:
- 1st : Radio Hirakhand, Sambhalpur, Odisha
- 2nd : VayalagaVanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- 3rd: VAGAD Radio “90.8”, Banswara, Rajasthan…Click here for official list..
8th National Community Radio Awards
About National Community Radio Awards:
i.The Government of India instituted the National Community Radio Awards to promote better programming in Community Radio.
ii.The National Community Radio Awards are given to those Community Radio Stations who have done exemplary work in the field of Community Radio Broadcasting through Community Centric Programmes.
iii.The various categories of awards based on the Community Radios’ developed programmes under various themes.
iv.The awards have promoted a culture of sustainability, innovation and citizen-participation.
Initiatives To Expand the reach of Radio in India:
- Govt to e-auction 808 channels in 284 cities
- Licensing time has reduced from 4 years to 6 months
- Processes involved has been reduced from 13 to 8
Community Radio and its Role:
- Community Radio is an important 3rd tier in Radio Broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Radio broadcasting and Commercial Radio.
- CSR are low power Radio Stations, which are meant to be set-up and operated by community based organisations.
- It provides a platform to communities to air local voices on issues concerning Health, Nutrition, Education, Agriculture etc.
- There are a total of 449 Community Radio Stations in India till July 2023.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:
Union Minister- Anurag Singh Thakur(constituency-Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of state- Dr. L. Murugan
