Mumbai, 30 December 2020
UNICEF Maharashtra and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Communication held the first Samudaay Ki Awaz Puraskar, today on 30th December 2020. The award ceremony felicitated the efforts of Community Radio Station (CRS) of Maharashtra and their participation in Life and Radio in Times of COVID 19. This initiative was supported by Director General Information Public Relations, Information Education Communication Bureau and Press Information Bureau, Mumbai.
UNICEF Maharashtra and SBC3 together worked with CRS in Maharashtra through this pandemic. They collaborated and created 4 programmes; Amchi Urmila, Dnyan Abhiyan, Manachya Goshti, Prashna Pratyekanche with 10 episodes each which were broadcast across 22 CRS between 15th August and 30th September. They also organized a social mobilization competition ‘Life and Radio in the time of COVID 19’ which started on 10th August 2020 and ended 30th September 2020.
Figure 1Presentation by 1st runner up of Samudaay ki Awaz Puraskar, Vasundhara Vahini
A total of 19 CRS participated in this competition. The Award ceremony was the final stage of selection process where Top 5 CRS presented their work to a panel of judges. Vasundhara Vahini, Yeralavani, Radio MGM, Sharada Krishi Vahini and Puneri Awaz were the top five CRS who presented their work. Puneri Awaz CRS is the winner of the first ever Samudaay ki Awaz competition. Vasundhara Vahini won the first runner up and Yeralavani CRS became the second runner up.
Figure 2Presentation by winner of Samudaay ki Awaz Puraskar, Puneri Awaz
The award ceremony was graced by judges, Mr. Dnyanoba Igwe, Senior Assistant Director General Information Public Relations, Dr. Kailash Baviskar, Deputy Director, Information Education Communication Bureau, Dr. Rahul Tidke, Deputy Director, Press Information Bureau and Harsha Mehta, Communication for Development Officer, UNICEF Maharashtra
Figure 3 presentation by 2nd runner up of Samudaay ki Awaz Puraskar, Yeralavani
The CRS were judged by the Jury based on three parameters; quality of contest, creativity of promotional post and CRS ability to conduct the competition. After the presentation a few of the representatives of CRS spoke about their experience on the ‘Life and Radio in Times of COVID 19’ competition.
N.A. Shah Ansari, CRS Association National President and Harsha Mehta from UNICEF also addressed the award ceremony.
Community Radio Stations work for and with the community and they have proven to be a great force in mobilising the people in their localities. This initiative gave an opportunity to participating community radios of Maharashtra to share common platform, interact & ideate from each other and learn best of practices.
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DJM/DL/DR
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