Community Radio ‘Dhimsa’ for information dissemination in Koraput
In the tribal-dominated Koraput block where government benefits rarely reach the people at the grassroots, ‘Dhimsa’ community radio has become a tool for social change and focuses on rural development issues while offering a platform to the villagers to voice their concern as well as to the local artist to show case their talents. Set up by South Odisha Voluntary Action (SOVA)with UNICEF support in 2008 at Chhapar village in Koraput block, the community radio has been disseminating information on government schemes, highlighting various issues and news through Broadcasting & Narrowcasting in Desiya language and other local dialects.

Outreach – It reaches out to areas in 12 km radius, covering a population of about 1, 25,000 people spread across 63 villages of six gram panchayat in Koraput and Lamtaput blocks. The community base of radio ‘Dhimsa’ extend to the Youth Listeners clubs who enjoy the tool not only for social information but also as a education tool, an awareness platform or a platform for the children to explore their talents through voice and script writing.How Radio ‘Dhimsa’ works: The community radio station has 12 reporters who travel extensively to all the rural areas for conducting programs, Rigorous narrowcasting in different villages of 2 block of koraput district. Radio Dhimsa broadcasts for nine hours a day including one hour of live show which includes Phone –in- Program where information on government schemes, people’s rights and issues are highlighted by reporters and queries of the villages are addressed from the studio. Sometime expert are invited to share some knowledge on any specific topic and the villagers can directly ask their queries to the expert.

‘Dhimsa Program’: While mornings are meant for programs like ‘Geet kudia’ (musical program by tribal artistes, ‘Sust Gagod’ (good health), ‘Chasi Bhaitanay Podey (agriculture updates and techniques), the evenings are meant for special shows like ‘Kenta Koley Kenta Hoisi’ which focuses on how to avail government benefits and ‘Entari Amor Gaon’ where villagers are given training on skills like making leaf plates, paddy preservation and bamboo products among other things. Anganwadi workers and ANMs have a phone-in program ‘Katakoru’ where they speak to women about various health and livelihood issues.From food sovereignty, organic farming to women’s health , Nutrition , Infant and Young Child Feeding ,Hand Wash , Save Water ,Livestock ,Education programs ,Empowering adolescent and youth on prevention of child marriage ,Life Skill , Child rights and Child Protection ,Immunization ,Sanitation ,Swatch Bharat.DRR and empowerment and problems faced by children, the issues that the community radio highlights are many.