SAMPARK (ସମ୍ପର୍କ)

South Orissa Voluntary Action(SOVA), aimed to disseminate important information and encourage positive behavioral change. A major barrier to effective communication was the reliance on the state language for government messages, which many tribal and rural populations struggled to understand. To address this, SOVA, in collaboration with the Government, established the  DHIMSA Community Radio Station (CRS) in Chappar village in 2008, with the goal of broadcasting crucial information in local languages to foster behavior and practice change. Supported by the local community and District Administration, RDCRS quickly gained momentum. A formal partnership with the Government of Odisha was established in April 2012 through a Partnership Agreement (GoPA), and by September 2012, the station began test broadcasts. After years of effort, RDCRS was officially licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2016. Since then, the station has played a key role in empowering local communities by improving their access to critical information, driving positive social change.

Through Dhimsa Community Radio, SOVA focuses on educating tribal and rural communities in local languages and creating practical awareness on rights and community issues. The programmes help people understand and reduce social challenges such as child marriage, child labour, school dropout, health and nutrition concerns, consumer rights violations, and barriers to accessing government services. By sharing simple, locally relevant knowledge, Dhimsa encourages informed decisions, community action and greater participation.