Senior Economic Advisor, Mr. Pooranchand Bodh, and Economic Advisor, Mr. P K Abdul Kareem, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, visited community radio Alfaz-e-Mewat on Saturday, March 20, 2021. The team included advisors and their spouses, two fellows working with the Ministry.
The purpose of their visit was to look at the operations and functioning of community radios and see how they are instrumental in disseminating important information at the last mile. The advisors witnessed a live program at the station on COVID-19 vaccination with Dr. Basant Dubey, deputy civil surgeon and District Immunization officer, Nuh. After the live show, the visitors interacted with Dr Dubey to learn how the station and government work hand-in-hand to tackle the lack of awareness and myths related to health, for instance the current vaccine hesitancy. The deputy civil surgeon spoke very highly of the station and its collaborative work on health issues.
Regular listeners who were invited to interact with the guests also shared how the radio has been a part of their lives. Listeners shared that with the coming of radio, the dying oral history is being revived. Each of the five listeners and community contributors talked about the role of radio in promoting agriculture, health and hygiene, and awareness on government programs in the area.
The team understood the technical side of the radio, as well as the impact on the ground through listeners. The senior advisor recorded select poems from his recently published poetry book for listeners in the studio. Overall, the visitors were impressed with the radio station’s work and shared that the Ministry is also working toward streamlining policies to give encourage the radio movement in the country.
Comments by the advisors as shared in the visitors’ book at the station:
“Superb community radio ecology experiment it is. Seeing and understating its evolution into excellence.” —Mr. Bodh
“People-friendly programs benefiting the local community. Best Wishes.” —Mr. Kareem
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