Information and Public Relations Department Secretary Madhu Sudan Padhi on Saturday inaugurated a Community Radio Association of Odisha and unveiled its logo here. Padhi said, “Community empowerment is key to development of the nation, and community radio will empower the masses in remote areas where mainstream media have not reached.”
He stated that his department would share Government news with all community radios across the State to reach more people. ActionAid senior programme manager Ghasiram Panda, Biswajit Padhi of Radio Swayamshakti, senior community media expert and Community Radio Association of Odisha president NA Shah Ansari appealed to the Government to ensure this medium to reach the masses which will promote transparency in public life.
The association with a membership of seven functional radios and another 25 letter of intent holders was also formalised. “The movement is in a very nascent stage as we have applicants only from 19 districts of the State,” said association secretary Pradip Dutta. The inauguration was followed by a consultation which was attended by IIMC Dhenkanal Director Mrinal Chatterjee and senior journalists Basudev Mahapatara, Sishir Dash and Manoj Kumar Das.