Konark is set to be the location of an 'Asia Centre for Community Media'. Nonprofit organisation Young India has proposed establishment of the centre of excellence to promote community media and development communication across Asian countries.
The centre would offer short-term courses, training and capacity-building workshops for media students, community media practitioners, and journalists from across Asia. It would have a conference hall for national and international conferences, a training hall that can accommodate up to 100 participants, two modern classrooms, accommodation facilities and a digital library along with a cafeteria.
The centre would be operated with the support of likeminded individuals, institutions, civil society organisations and government bodies. With the increasing corporatisation and monopolisation of media houses, this centre is expected to provide a glimmer of hope for the masses. It would serve as a platform for cross-learning and research in the field of development communication, social media and community media.
The Young India is a national-level organisation working for social development for over three decades. Its efforts have been recognised with several national and international awards, including the National Youth Award and five National Community Radio Awards. NA Shah Ansari, an eminent community media specialist and social activist, has initiated the idea for the centre. He has served as the national president of Community Radio Association of India. Under his leadership, the community radio and community media movement in India has taken a new dimension.