International Award for C-NES radio
The Brahmaputra Community Radio Station(BCRS) today won the Manthan Award South Asia and Asia Pacific 2014 under the Community Broadcasting category, according to an announcement by The Grand Jury.
BCRS competed with 400 nominations (all nominations under different categories) for the award this year and the announcement was made in Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
According to the award citation,the award was given ” For running a grassroots Community Radio Station” recognized by the Grand Jury as Winner for year 2014.
What is remarkable is that the entire team of BCRS, led by co-ordinator Bhaskar Bhuyan, did not have any previous training in journalism but developed as reporters through training after the idea of the station took shape. Today it broadcasts for eight hours every day on 90.4 FM from Dibrugarh and can be heard in three districts along and across the Brahmaputra.
The goal of the Manthan Awards is to “create an information rich society where everyone, irrespective of caste, religion, race, region, gender is empowered to create, receive, share and utilize information and knowledge through digital content for their economic, social, cultural and political upliftment and development” .
The awards are a first of its kind initiative to recognize the best use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and digital tools to create holistic and comprehensive impact on people. The Award is less about technology and digital media but more about the right use of the digital and technological tools. Since its launch on 10th October 2004 it has come to define the very best in e-Content and digital practices for development arena in entire Asia region. After four successful years of holding it within India, it was expanded to cover all of South Asia & Asia Pacific countries.
The Brahmaputra Community Radio Station started with initial support from UNICEF and like other C-NES(www.c-Nes.org) projects and programmes is an innovative effort to reach the marginalized and poor with new ideas, opportunities, giving them a platform to speak and perform in their own voices and access to better lives. It runs radio plays and programmes on issues as diverse as domestic violence, substance abuse, sanitation, safe drinking water, nutrition for children, the need for sustained health care and educating the girl child. There are phone in programmes as well as music shows by local artistes and discussions recorded in the studio.
The emphasis is on better access to rights and services through clear information, delivered with entertainment and energy.
BCRS is based in the upper Assam tea town of Dibrugarh,on the banks of the river at Maijan Ghat. The station is unique in that it caters to the needs and aspirations of people belonging to as many as five communities residing around the area in as many local languages – Chadri (dialect of the tea Communities), Assamese, Bhojpuri, Bodo and Mishing. BCRS seeks to reach the most marginalized groups on the 14 islands and 30 tea plantations and more than 180 villages in Dibrugarh district but its footprint reaches across the Brahmaputra to other districts.