The two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan (East) commenced today in Guwahati, celebrating two decades of Community Radio in India. The event has been organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. More than 65 Community Radio Stations from Eastern and Northeastern India are participating.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor, IIMC, expressed her honour in partnering with the Ministry for this milestone occasion. She highlighted the remarkable expansion of the Community Radio ecosystem, with over 550 stations currently active across India and several more in the pipeline, particularly in the Northeast. She underlined the significant role of Community Radio in gender-sensitive communication, emergency outreach, student engagement, folk culture preservation, and the responsible use of AI in content development. Dr. Gaur encouraged all stakeholders to work collaboratively in strengthening community-led development through Community Radio.
Addressing the gathering, Shri L. Madhu Nag, Registrar, IIMC, spoke about the transformation of India’s radio sector—from mainstream FM to the rise of Community Radio as a platform empowering local voices. He stressed the importance of community-driven content, capacity building, and long-term financial sustainability, noting that creative, locally grounded programming remains central to CR success.
Ms. Shilpa Rao, Director CRS, Ministry of I&B, outlined the objectives of the Sammelan and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening the Community Radio sector in the Northeast. She highlighted recent Ministry initiatives designed to support and expand CR operations.
Shri Mahendra Meena, Under Secretary, Ministry of I&B, emphasized the indispensable role of Community Radio in last-mile communication. He noted that CR stations amplify authentic community voices and ensure accurate information reaches the public, especially during emergencies and development programs. He reassured participants of the Ministry’s continued support.
Offering a heartfelt vote of thanks, Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Pranvendra, Convenor of the Sammelan, appreciated the dedication of Community Radio practitioners and experts who contribute tirelessly to grassroots broadcasting across the region.
Day 1 of the Sammelan featured multiple technical and interactive sessions. Shri Manish Sheelwant, Deputy Wireless Advisor, Ministry of Telecommunications, spoke on transmitter replacement, migration to the SARAL Sanchar portal, and WoL renewal procedures.
Prof. (Dr.) Kanchan K. Malik emphasized the significance of gender-based programming and the crucial role women play in content creation and CRS operations.
A panel discussion moderated by Shri Amit Dwivedi, Project Director, CRS, explored State Government engagement in promoting Community Radio across Bihar, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha.
An insightful session on Preservation of Indigenous Languages through CRS was led by Prof. Uma Pappuswamy from CIIL, Mysuru. She highlighted that the hyperlocal nature of CRS makes it a powerful medium for sustaining indigenous languages.
The day concluded with a session on community-based content creation by Shri N. A. Shah Ansari, Director, Radio Namaskar, Odisha, who shared best practices for developing impactful community-focused programming.
The Sammelan serves as an important platform for Community Radio practitioners to exchange experiences, address challenges, explore innovative strategies, and collectively chart the future of grassroots broadcasting across Eastern and Northeastern India.
