Tech-Enabled Future for Community Radio: COL-CEMCA and Reliance Foundation Lay Groundwork for Digital Transformation


New Delhi, 5 August 2025

A high-level brainstorming session on “Empowering Community Radio through Tech-Enabled Outreach” was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) and Reliance Foundation (RF) at the CEMCA office in New Delhi. The event marked a significant milestone in promoting modern, technology-driven innovations for Community Radio Stations (CRSs) across the country.

The session brought together thought leaders, technical experts, and practitioners from across the community radio ecosystem to explore technology-enabled models for improving content delivery, engagement, and the overall impact of CRSs throughout India.

The event opened with remarks by Ms Monica Sharma, Programme Coordinator at COL-CEMCA, followed by an introductory address from Mr Rameswaran Kailasam, Lead-Knowledge Management & Digital Solutions at RF. He underscored the central role of content creation in the success of community radio and reiterated RF’s commitment to supporting CRS operations by offering platforms and building applications for content generation and management, aimed at driving rural development.

Delivering the special address, Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, emphasised that community radio is truly “by the people, for the people”. He highlighted the need for CRSs to embrace modern technology to remain relevant and effective in connecting with local communities - particularly farmers, fisherfolk, and rural populations. Dr Shadrach also spoke about the potential of interactive voice response systems (IVRS), access to expert-validated content repositories, and the power of tech-enabled outreach tools to inspire and empower people on the ground.

Throughout the day, the RF team showcased a suite of digital tools, including:

  • Multilingual audio streaming platforms for broadcasting ready-to-air content;
  • Voice-based input tools and AI-supported content generation;
  • Community engagement tools such as real-time surveys and feedback systems;
  • Pre-packaged thematic audio bundles in regional languages;
  • Strategies for integrated outreach using internet radio, YouTube, and WhatsApp.

In his vote of thanks, Mr Jitender Sharma, Secretary General of the Community Radio Association, expressed gratitude to COL-CEMCA for providing the platform for collaboration with RF. He encouraged all CRS representatives to act swiftly in adopting the demonstrated technologies and to collaborate proactively, laying the groundwork for future partnerships.

The event concluded with a forward-looking vision. Participants agreed to work towards a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and to begin the immediate implementation of these tools in their respective stations - bridging technology with grassroots communication to enhance community impact.