Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today inaugurated India’s 500th Community Radio Station through video conferencing in the presence of Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan and Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma. The station, Apna Radio 90.0 FM, is a station run by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl. In his address, Mr Vaishnaw said the initiative will bring a substantive change in the lives of people in the coverage area of Apna Radio station. He stated that this launch is also a significant milestone in the government’s policy of Act East. The Minister informed the Chief Minister of Mizoram that the Union Budget has made a record allocation under the railway budget for the North East region. This will bolster the long-cherished dream for Mizoram to get good railway connectivity. In his address, Dr. Murugan delved into the socially beneficial nature of such stations and stated that, as against the commercial nature of private radio channels, community radio stations are set up out of a commitment to last-mile information communication.
On the occasion, Mr. Vaishnaw announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards. In the thematic category, the first prize has been given to Radio Mayur of Saran, Bihar, for its programme, Tech Sakhi. In the Most Innovative Community Engagement Award category, the first prize has been given to Yerlawani Sangli, Maharashtra, for the programme Kahani sunandachi. Radio Brahmaputra of Dibrugarh, Assam, has got first prize in the Promoting Local Culture category for its programme, Igarekun. In the Sustainability Model Award category, the first prize has been given to Radio Benziger, run by the Bishop Benziger Hospital Society of Kollam, Kerala.
