10th National Community Radio Awards announced by Ashwini Vaishnaw

The winners of the 10th National Community Radio Award were announced by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on 25 July 2024. The minister also inaugurated the country’s 500th Community Radio Station. The chief minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma was also present on the occasion.

500th Community Radio in India 

The 500th Community Radio in the country has been set up at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication(IIMC) in Aizawl, Mizoram. The Apna Radio 90.0 FM will disseminate information about daily weather updates, government schemes and agriculture-related information in an agrarian state.

Community Radio differs from public service radio broadcasting, including All India Radio and Commercial Radio. Community Radios are low-power Radios set up and operated by the local communities in local languages on issues concerning the local populations, such as nutrition, health, etc.

The government of India has allowed the setting up of Community Radio by educational institutions, community-based organisations, registered societies, trusts etc.

10th National Community Radio Awards Winner 

Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced the winners of the 10th National Community Award.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting set up the National Community Award in 2011-12.

The award is given in four categories, and winners are awarded a cash prize of Rs one lakh for the first prize, Rs seventy-five thousand for the second prize and Rs fifty thousand for the third prize winner in each category.

Category: Thematic Award

• First prize: Radio Mayur, District Saran, Bihar for the programme: Tech Sakhi

• Second Prize: Radio Kochi, Kerala for the programme: Nirangal

• Third Prize: Hello Doon, Dehradun, Uttarakhand for the programme: Meri Baat

Category: Most Innovative Community Engagement Award

• First prize: Yerlawani Sangli of Maharashtra for the programme: Kahani Sunandachi

• Second Prize:  Vaylaga Vanol of  Madurai, Tamil Nadu, for the programme Let’s Build a New Norm

• Third Prize: Salaam Namaste Noida, Uttar Pradesh for the programme: Maid Didi

Category: Promoting Local Culture Award

• First prize: Radio Brahmaputra of  Dibrugarh, Assam for the programme: Igarekun

• Second Prize: Radio Kotagiri of  Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu, for the  programme En Makkaludan Oru Payanam

• Third Prize: Radio Active of  Bhagalpur Bihar for the programme: Ang Pradesh ki Adbut Dharohar

Category: Sustainability Model Award

• First prize: Radio Benziger, run by Bishop Benziger Hospital Society, Kollam, Kerala

• Second Prize: Radio Namskar, Konark, Odisha, run by Young India

• Third Prize: Radio Antarwani, Gulbarga, Karnataka, run by Sharanbasbeswara Vidya Vardhak Sangh