First ever community radio by an NGO operational in Bundhelkhand

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) A community radio, the first ever by an NGO, the Society for Development Alternatives, has become operational at Taragram, Orchha in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

This follows the grant of permission by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to 34 NGOs so far to set up, maintain and operate community radio in different parts of the country.

Earlier, only educational institutions were permitted to set up a community radio. The policy has since been liberalised by the government to bring in the civil society and voluntary organisations working not for profit on issues of development and social change.

The community radio initiative aims to empower women, youth and marginalised groups to take part in local self-governance and overall socio-economic and cultural development of the area.

The Society for Development Alternatives, which took a lead in establishing a community radio in the NGO sector on October 23 last, is engaged in natural resource management in the region through a range of activities involving conversion of wasteland to productive land, water conservation and promotion of appropriate farming practices and livestock management.

Besides, the NGO is developing partnerships and alliances with banks, research institutes, government departments, panchayats and civil society organisations to ensure convergence of developmental goals in Bundelkhand.

UNI SD SK KP2020