Bhubaneswar: A two-day National Community Radio Conclave organized by Community Radio Association of Odisha in collaboration with IIEC, IGSSS, UNICEF, Young India started here today.
The Conclave was inaugurated on World Radio Day 2019 by the Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr. Sourabh Garg IAS,Shri Karunakar Patnaik, IAS (Retd); Officer In Charge, and Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Odisha, Shri Sourav Bhattacharjee; Assistant Director, IIEC, Mrs. Sarmila Patnaik; President, CRAO and Director, IIEC, Dr. Shisir K. Das and President, Community Radio Association India, Shri N. A. Shah Ansari. Joining in the celebrations were approximately 100 community radio broadcasters, radio experts, radio professionals, policy makers, donors and media from Odisha and other states.
The inaugural event saw the launch of two initiatives: CRAO led MissionCR-314 campaign that aims to push for community radios in all 314 blocks of Odisha and #CommunityRadio4Change initiative that seeks to ensure child rights by empowering adolescents and youth through Community Radios in Odisha.
“Community radio is a powerful tool in relation to its location specificity, ability to reach vulnerable communities and an important source of information in a defined locality. This gives community radio a greater advantage vis-a-vis other media and information sources. It can help reach and serve communities in a more targeted manner for overall social development,” said Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr. Sourabh Garg at the inauguration of the Conclave today.
Speaking at the launch of the #CommunityRadio4Change initiative, UNICEF Odisha Officer-In-Charge and Nutrition Specialist, Shri Sourav Bhattacharjee said, “UNICEF has had a long association with community radio stations towards ensuring rights of children across the globe, in India and in Odisha. We are very pleased to collaborate with Community Radio stations in the state this year. It is significant as this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of child rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child by countries across the world, including India. A year to celebrate the progress made for every child, as well as remind ourselves that much more remains to be done, with special attention needed to ensure rights of the most vulnerable children. Under the #CommunityRadio4Change initiative in Odisha, we hope to reach the most vulnerable communities, mobilize and empower young people from those communities to lead this initiative for child rights.”
The first day sessions will include discussions on Urbanization and Migration: Challenges and Prospects for Community Radio’ and ‘Building a dialogue: Community Radio for Social Change.’ Both sessions will be guided by experts and professionals followed by an open house discussion. The second day will include sharing of experiences by community radio stations followed by technical and group sessions on ‘Empowering Adolescents and Youth through Community Radio.’ The best practices by various community radios across the country will be presented and shared followed by open house session on the issues.
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