MUMBAI: The three day consultation on Community Radio conducted by OneWorld on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at Vizag from 2-4 March, This workshop relayed promising signals to educational institutions and other non-profit organizations and encouraged them to set up Community Radio stations in order to empower people at the grassroots level.

Expressing a keen interest in setting up a community radio station, Andhra University vice-chancellor professor G S N Raju said, “Community radio is a great tool for empowering people at the grassroots. All of us must do whatever we can do to promote it and in turn benefit from it.”

Raju was delivering the valedictory address at the three-day Consultation on Community Radio organized by OneWorld Foundation India on behalf of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at the campus from 2 March to 4 March.

The event was part of a series of such consultations conducted all over the country and supported by the Central Government to popularize community radio among NGOs and educational institutions. The consultation was attended by the Ministry officials, community radio experts, educational institutions and NGOs from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Delhi.

The specific objectives of the Vishakhapatnam workshop were to propagate and demystify the community radio policy and application for licensing. Apart from focusing on creating awareness among the potential applicants and stakeholders, the workshop also sought to motivate potential civil society and other organizations to apply for licenses to set up and operate community radio stations. Besides, the workshop provided an overview about the process of capacity building, content generation, technology development, management, ownership and sustainability of community radio stations.

The three-day event also deliberated upon the nuances of the technical infrastructure for community radio stations. The event is also looking at the creation of a regular supply of content for the stations. Besides, the workshop facilitated interactions between functional community radio stations and aspiring community radio stations.

Young Community Media expert & Community Radio Association, India (CRA) VP N A Shah Ansari shared his experience with first community radio of Odisha , Radio Namaskar. He deliberated on community engagement, self regulation, different approach of sustainability of community radio which was appreciated by the aspirant delegates.

Welcoming the participants, OneWorld Foundation India director Rajiv Tikoo highlighted the role played by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in strengthening the community radio movement in the country. Currently, the country has over 140 community radio stations that are owned by NGOs, educational institutions and communities.