Aizwal, July 25: Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards on Thursday.

He also inaugurated India's 500th Community Radio Station in the presence of Union Minister of State for I&B Dr L Murugan and Mizoram CM Lalduhoma. The station 'Apna Radio 90.0 FM' is run by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl.

Announcing this milestone in India's community radio journey, Vaishnaw said that this initiative will bring a substantive change in the lives of people in the coverage area of Apna Radio station. He further stated that this launch is also a significant milestone in the Government's policy of Act East.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said "Apna Radio Station at IIMC Aizawl will write a new chapter in communication for the state. Mizoram is primarily an agrarian state due to its significant agricultural potential. Establishing a community radio station for the farmer community would be highly beneficial, providing them with daily weather updates, government schemes and agriculture-related information."

Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan delved into the socially beneficial nature of such stations and stated that, as against the commercial nature of private radio channels, community radio stations are set up out of a commitment to last-mile information communication. He further added that the role of these stations rises significantly during times of natural disaster.

Secretary, Ministry of I&B Sanjay Jaju, also present at the occasion, said that community radio stations play a pivotal role in disseminating information related to agriculture, government schemes for farmer welfare, weather information, etc. 

The Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dr. Anupama Bhatnagar said that the inauguration of 'Apna Radio 90.0 FM' is a new chapter in the history of Mizoram, which will bring communities together through dialogue, showcasing local culture, promoting and empowering citizens.

In Thematic, Radio Mayur from Saran district, Bihar, got the first prize for the Tech Sakhi programme. Similarly, the second prize was bagged by Radio Kochi, Kerala for 'Nirangal' programme. Hello Doon, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, received the third prize for the Meri Baat programme.

In the Most Innovative Community Engagement Award, Yerlawani Sangli from Maharashtra got the first prize for Kahani Sunandachi programme. Similarly, the second and third prizes were received by Vaylaga Vanoli, Madurai of Tamil Nadu, Salaam Namaste of Noida, Uttar Pradesh for Let's Build a New Norm and Maid Didi respectively.

In the Promoting Local Culture Award category, Radio Brahmaputra, Dibrugarh, Assam for Igarekun, Radio Kotagiri, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu for En Makkaludan Oru Payanam, Radio Active, Bhagalpur, Bihar for Ang Pradesh ki Adbut Dharohar won first, second and third prize respectively.

In the Sustainability Model Award category, Radio Benziger, run by the Bishop Benziger Hospital Society, Kollam, Kerala, won the first prize. The second prize was won by Radio Namaskar, Konark, Odisha run by Young India. Radio Antarwani, Gulbarga, Karnataka, run by Sharanbasbeswara Vidya Vardhak Sangh, won the third award in the Sustainability Model Award Category.

The National Community Radio Awards are generally conferred every year. In this series, the Ministry has today announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards in four categories. The categories are Thematic Award, Most Innovative Community Engagement Award, Promoting Local Culture Award, and Sustainability Model Award. Each category has First, Second and third prizes of rupees 1.0 lakh, rupees 75 Thousand and rupees 50 thousand respectively. (ANI)