OneWorld South Asia inaugurates audio studio for NGOs in Delhi

Press Release New Delhi, May 28:Delhi Police chief Dr KK Paul and Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma today inaugurated an audio studio in the OneWorld South Asia (OWSA) office that will provide free facilities to NGOs and local communities to produce their programmes on development-related issues. Other dignitaries present on the occasion included, OneWorld South Asia trustee P Jayarajan and Indira Mansingh from Development Alternatives. OWSA is an international non profit network using ICTs like the Internet, mobile phones and community radio for poverty alleviation. It is a part of the UK-based development organization OneWorld and now has over 500 organisations as its partners. These include NGOs, donors, multilateral organizations, private sector, media, academicians and governments. Speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharati chief KS Sarma said: “We want to reiterate our support for such initiatives. We have a Yuva Vani transmitter which remains idle during the day as it is used only in the evening. We are very happy with this effort by OneWorld South Asia and want to encourage its partners and other NGOs to use the Prasar Bharati facilities to reach out to the people.” Responding to the offer, OWSA director Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach said: “OWSA through its network of partners and communities will broadcast the Ek Duniya Ek Awaz programmes through the Prasar Bharati facilities from July 1, 2005.” Street children aided by an NGO CASP Plan recorded their first programme at the Ek Duniya audio studio immediately after the inauguration ceremony. Delhi police chief Dr KK Paul said: “Radio is an important tool for reaching out to communities. Even we in the police are looking at community policing aspects as community participation is a must for the success of any programme.” In her address, Indira Mansingh from Development Alternatives said: “Initiatives like Ek Duniya Audio Studio will voice the aspirations, the hopes and the pain of the poorest and the most vulnerable people of the society.” OneWorld South Asia has initiated the Ek Duniya Ek Aawaaz radio programme to promote the use of radio as an effective tool of communication for development and to use radio as a participatory method to empower communities. The objective is to build the capacity among Community Based Organisations in the use of audio tools as a means for social and economic empowerment and to build /strengthen grassroots broadcasters’ network to amplifying voices from the community. NGOs will be able to use the OWSA audio studio free of cost for producing their programmes. Radio is one of the powerful mass media for reaching out to communities. It is an important tool for the rapid diffusion of important messages on various issues and provides a platform for expression of views, concerns and perceptions. It is a tool that can be used to develop community cohesion and solidarity. Community involvement is fundamental for the successful use of radio with diversified thinking process on various issues, like health, education, nutrition, socio-cultural taboos and so on. For more details, contact: Geeta Malhotra at geeta.malhotra at oneworld.net Or, Seema Sangra at seema.sangra at oneworld.net

User comments

 Printable version