MIB-CEMCA Community Radio Awareness Workshop-1-3 February 2016, Nagpur, Maharashtra

MIB-CEMCA Community Radio Awareness Workshop-1-3 February 2016,  Nagpur

The three day Community Radio  (CR) Awareness Workshop organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB),  Government of India, New Delhi in association with Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia  was held at Nagpur from February 1-3, 2016 . Over three days, about 40 participants from across Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were given a walk thru of the community radio policy guidelines and provisions, technical requirements, and understanding communities for the purpose of engaging them with the radio.  Community Media  and Technical Experts, and a representative of the MIB provided detailed information on all aspects of applying for a community radio licence as well as setting up a radio station. A panel of experts for four operational community radio stations from Wardha, Ahmadnagar, Baramati and Pune provided special insights into the day-to-day operations and challenges and  shared their gratifying experiences of engaging with this people’s medium. A high point of the workshop was a visit to the  community radio station at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialisation , MGIRI CRS, where participants got an opportunity to see a station in operation.

Dr. Ved Prakash Mishra inaugurated the workshop with  an inspiring keynote address  where he underscored the characteristics of   community radio as a medium that is at once Accessible, Amenable and Affordable  set the workshop in the  direction. Dr. P.Sivaswaroop, Regional Director, IGNOU , Napur , delivered the valedictory address and also participated actively in the workshop.

The workshop ended on a high note with participants giving an ‘Expression  of Interest “to MIB for setting up a CR Stations.