Unlocking the Potential of Community Radio: Awareness Workshop Concluded in Aizawl

Aizawl, 05 December 2025

Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl, Mizoram, India, organised a “Community Radio Awareness Workshop” from 04-05 December 2025 at Aizawl, Mizoram. Over 40 participants from three Northeastern states- Assam, Mizoram and Tripura, representing various educational institutions, government departments, non-governmental organisations, and community-based organisations, attended the workshop.

Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, highlighted community radio as a powerful tool for social development, peer learning, and entertainment, emphasising that it is "operated by the people, of the people, and owned by the people themselves." He stressed its role in disseminating crucial government information and amplifying community needs, encouraging participants to leverage the training for technical and functional knowledge.

In her inaugural address, Prof. Shashwati Goswami, Regional Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Aizawl, Mizoram, India, stressed that community radio is a powerful medium, especially for Northeast India, where language barriers exist. She emphasised that community radio could bridge the communication gap and promote local cultures. She also assured participants of the support available from the government and organisations such as COL-CEMCA.

Mr. Amit Dwivedi, Project Director, CRS, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, discussed policy guidelines, procedures, and schemes for setting up a community radio station. He highlighted that the licensing process has been simplified and emphasised the importance of location selection, providing geo-coordinates, and a complete address. He apprised that financial assistance is available for the Northeast region, and a list of vendors is provided for setting up infrastructure.

Other important resource persons include Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Acharjya, a community radio practitioner, Ms. Swapnali Bhuyan from Radio Gyanmalinee, Mr. Abhijit Roy from Radio JU, and Ms. Kavita Rani from Apna Radio 96.9 FM, IIMC New Delhi.

The workshop covered community radio's concept, policy, technical aspects, sustainability, and management, with expert insights from operational stations like Dibrugarh, Guwahati University, and Jadavpur University's Radio JU. A field visit to Apna Radio, IIMC Aizawl, and team building activities complemented the learning experience, aiming to equip participants with skills to establish and run successful community radio stations.

The workshop raised awareness about community radio's role in community engagement and development, demystified policies, and encouraged eligible organisations to apply for licenses, setting the stage for increased collaboration and positive change in the region.

Ms Monica Sharma, COL-CEMCA, concluded the workshop with a word of thanks and assured participants of COL-CEMCA's full support.