The Hindu, Hyderabad, August 3, 2011 http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article2317693.ece Honour for Sangham Radio Staff Reporter
The community radio experiment -Sangham Radio-, run by a group of illiterate rural dalit women at Machnoor village, Medak district continues to attract attention and accolades. The School of Journalism and Communication of University of Queensland, Australia has commended the dalit women for their ‘innovative and practical mode of communication contributing to grass-roots levels sustainable development'. The commendation is part of a global competition ‘2011 Communication for Social Change Award', which was conducted by University of Queensland. Close to 60 competitors drawn from 22 countries vied for the top honours. The community radio, which was set up by Deccan Development Society (DDS), is being exclusively run by dalit women from rural background. Commending the work by rural women, The Centre for Communication and Social Change, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Queensland has sent a letter. “We commend the courage and extraordinary commitment you have demonstrated to communication for social change. The Centre commends your contribution to innovative and practical communication that has contributed to grassroots-level sustainable development,” the letter said. “The poor and marginalised, especially rural dalit women, are excluded by traditional media. The issues that impact their lives are hardly covered by anyone. The Sangham radio is an attempt to give such women a voice and a platform to share views,” says Director of DDS, P.V. Sateesh said. Supported by DDS, about 18 women have been creating content for the community radio on a wide range of issues. The community radio is billed as the first such initiative in India that is run and managed fully by rural dalit women. The women were provided training on the intricacies of broadcasting and running a community radio by DDS. “There are close to 5,000 women members of DDS and they contribute Rs. 5 every month to run the community radio. Issues like ecological agriculture, local healing systems, violence against women, locally relevant education, childcare and tradition and community care of natural resources are discussed in the radio,” Mr. Sateesh said. -- Prof. Vinod Pavarala Dean, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication & Director, Office of International Affairs University of Hyderabad Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500046 Phone: (School) +91-40-23135500/23011553; (International) +91-40-23134041 http://tinyurl.com/dofcomm
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