Koraput village gets its community radio station

The Dhimsa FM radio station at Chhapar village in Koraput district focusses on rural development issues while offering a platform to the villagers to voice their concern. The radio station, established by local voluntary organization SOVA, was on Tuesday inaugurated by Unicef's India deputy representative (programme) in the presence of Koraput district collector Jaya Kumar V. "The idea behind setting up the station was to focus on rural development issues related to food sovereignty, organic farming, women's health, problems faced by children and to disseminate information related to various government schemes. It will also provide a platform to the rural residents to air their concerns and to promote local artists," said secretary of SOVA, Sanjit Patnaik. The station with one studio to record programmes and one 50-watt FM transmitter with coverage radius of 12 km on air broadcasts programmes on a range of social issues from 6 to 9 am, 10 am to 12 noon, 2pm to 5 pm and 6 to 9 pm in night.

"The station provides a wonderful platform to air problems like women's health issues, practice of child marriage and sanitation among others. Prior to the inauguration of the station, we have prepared over 700 programmes on various subjects," said Sachida Mohanty, a programmer at the radio station, who works full-time for Dhimsa Radio. "The programmes are prepared by the community in local dialects and provides a platform for local artists," he added. At least 12 reporters, appointed by the station, extensively travel in rural areas to interview villagers. A listener's club has been formed in each of the 62 village and they have been supplied a radio. "In places like Koraput we need more of such FM radio stations as the administration has very limited resources in reaching out to the people residing in remote and inaccessible areas of the district," said the collector.