With the launching of Gajapati district's very own and Odisha's 16th community radio station JANABANI 90.8 FM on the Gandhi Jayanti here, the tribals and farmers of the region would now have their voice heard.
The 239th community radio station in the country will serve people of Gosani and adjoining blocks of Gajapati district, including Paralakhemundi town. It is targeted to cater to programmes related to farming and Adivasi culture.
Though Government of India in 2007 had targeted to have 4,000 such stations, still it has not been realised, said a speaker.
"Both State and Union Governments have earmarked special funding through IMAGE to promote such institutions. We hope in near future we will see more such community radio stations," said IMAGE, Bhubaneswar, director Satya Narayan Mishra.
Being promoted by Jana Kalyan Sanstha (JKS), one of the leading civil society organisations of the district and by social worker Durga Madhab Panda, the radio station will definitely go a long way in creating awareness among the tribal and farming communities to develop their understanding on Government programmes, policies on their benefits and entitlements besides dissemination of information, knowledge and good practices.
Panda said, “Our programming would include latest technologies in the field of agriculture and innovations on tribal development. Besides these programmes, we will have reflections on tribal culture, heritage and their way of life.”
Speakers at the launching event urged the Government to encourage community radio broadcasters with all kinds of financial support.