Union Minister, Anurag Thakur confers 8th and 9th Community Radio Awards

Union Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur presented the 8^th and 9^th National Community Radio Awards during the Inaugural session of the two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelon.

What’s in News?

The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting presented the 8^th and 9^th National Community Radio Awards during the Inaugural Session of two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelon held at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi.

Award Winners:

Thematic Awards:

First Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana. Programme: Hope Jeene Ki Raah.
Second Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambalpur, Odissa. Programme: Adhar O Poshan Bigyan.
Third Prize: Green Radio, Sabour, Bihar. Programme: Poshan Shrinkhla.

Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards:

First Prize: Radio SD, Mazaffarnagar, UP. Programme: Hizra in Between.
Second Prize: Kabir Radio, Sant Kabir Nagar, UP. Programme: Selfie Le Le Re.
Third Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana. Programme: Book Bugs.

Promoting Local Culture Awards:

First Prize: Voice of SOA, Cuttack, Odissa. Programme: Asmita.
Second Prize: Friends FM, Tripura, Agartala. Programme: Revived a dying art: MASK & POT.
Third Prize: Pantnagar Janvani, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. Programme: Dadi Maa Ka Batua.

Sustainability Modern Awards:

First Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambhalpur, Odissa.
Second Prize: Vayalaga Vanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Third Prize: VAGAD Radio “90.8”, Banswara, Rajasthan.

Role of Community Radio Stations:

Community Radio Stations played a vital role in realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Jan Bhagidari se Jan Andolan. Union Minster, Anurag Thakur praised these stations for their contributions in keeping listeners informed during calamities and highlighted their significance in education, awareness generation, and problem solving across the remotest concerns of India.

Significance:

Community Radio Stations plays a significant role by making people aware about any calamities and also plays key role in the fields of education, health and awareness generation.

Union Minister during the Inaugural Session emphasized the increasing popularity of Community Radio Stations and expressed the government’s commitment to realizing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of having a Community Radio Station in each district.

Apurva Chandra, Secretary, highlighted the need for a platform to bring together the experiences of Community Radio Stations and lauded their contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government’s Efforts:

The licensing time has been significantly reduced from four years to six months.
The number of processes involved has been reduced from thirteen to eight.
The Government will auction 808 channels in 284 cities during the 3^rd e-auction, thereby expanding the reach of radio in India. Find More Awards News Here