Workshop on Sustainable Model of Community Radio at Radio Deccan, Hyderabad on 10-12 December 2012

New Delhi: 01/12/2012 : Currently, one of the major challenges faced by Community Radio Station (CRS) operators is sustaining the operation. Most CRS manage to raise the initial funding for setting up the stations but thereafter find it difficult to run the CRS as thriving community institution. Raising the money for operations, engaging the community, providing relevant programming and keeping volunteers motivated pose major challenges.  Unless all these aspects are taken care of and sound station and content management practices adopted, the station fall into doldrums. Many CRS lack the wherewithal to understand and synergize these aspects of sustainability.

Last year, with support from UNICEF, CEMCA undertook brief case studies of 10 stations looking at their sustainability plans captured in a publication ‘Abiding Voices’.  Using this as the base document and working closely with three CRS, a sustainable model for C R operations will be developed with the objective to  Create a model for a sustainable community radio  operation and develop a  tool-kit on how to make a C R S sustainable

This activity to be undertaken with three CRS partners in India and Bangladesh begins with Radio Deccan, Hyderabad. Preceding the workshop will be a baseline study and identification of a team comprising CRS staff and community members. A SWOT analysis will be undertaken at the workshop identifying areas for action. Working with a mentor, the team will develop an intervention plan that will be put into action over the next three months and a comparative report provided by April 2013.

The next two CRS partners PARD Vanoli (tentative) and Radio Mahananda (Bangladesh) will be initiated subsequently.  These reports will form a blueprint for new and struggling CRS to get on their feet both in India and Bangladesh and indeed the region as the sector opens-up. The publication will be ready by June 2013.