Implementing Agency: Centre for Rural Empowerment & Development organization (CREDO)

Implementing Site (District & State): Thoubal, Manipur

Objectives:

• The basic objective of the Community Radio broadcasting would be to serve the cause of the community in the service area of the Permission Holder by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their program.

• Community radio is not-for profit and provides a mechanism for facilitating individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own diverse stories, to share experiences, and in a media rich world to become active creators and contributors of media.

• Community Radio intervention is to address social issues (such as poverty and social exclusion) at the community level, empower marginalized rural groups and catalyse democratic processes and ongoing development efforts.

• The urge to do community radio fulfils the basic desire for communication and self-expression and is on the forefront of today's democracy movements.

• CRS of this location will be used to improve awareness and knowledge of solutions to community development problems within various sectors including Modern agricultural practices, culture, rural development, education, hygiene and sanitation and local governance among rural people living in the Shikhong Sekmai Village under Thoubal districts in particular.

• Social Cohesion: Programs designed on topical issues have further endeared to the people. The station engages experts/resource persons as guests on these programs and they (resource persons) are able to explain and make clear issues in their areas of expertise.

• Its role includes poverty eradication, illiteracy eradication and employment. Community radio is the common link which binds all these development factors over a common communication channel. In the years to come, it will prove to be a vital tool that Governments will use for social upliftment.

Deliverables/Outcomes/Success Stories: 

• Community radio as distinct from commercial and public service broadcasting, serves to bring local level small communities together, focuses on general public’s day-to-day concerns and helps in realizing local demands and aspirations. 

• Enlightening and rising the communities around development initiatives and strategies that will result in a better life for listeners (agriculture, education, health and gender issues, disaster and environmental degradation, issues of local government, peace keeping etc.) 

• As community radio prepares and broadcasts programs for the rural particular community, so it can also be specified to a target population. 

•  Community radio broadcasts programs that cater to vulnerable and marginalized groups in the community and encourage them to share their ideas and views on air.

• The programs of community radio encourage wide diversity of thoughts and views from different marginalized groups, such as women and youth or minority community. 

•  Sustainable development and positive social change of minority groups can be facilitated by community radio. It is community radio which can convey the sufferings and sorrows, difficulties, and limitations of a community to the policy making authority. 

• Promote Development and Social Change including the special slant on News, Entertainment and Education and Services for Oppressed Women and Unemployed Youth.

Success Story: WAHONG Radio Station|90.00 MHz, nestled in the heart of Shikhong Bazar, Nongpok Sekmai, Dist. Thoubal, Manipur stands as a beacon of community spirit and resilience. Despite its modest beginnings, the station has flourished into a vital hub for agriculture experts, local news, cultural exchange, and grassroots activism. One remarkable aspect of WAHONG Radio's success is the unwavering support it receives from villagers and listeners. Moved by the station's dedication to amplifying their voices and preserving the heritage, villagers frequently flock to Radio station, not just as listeners, but as active contributors. They donate generously, both morally and in kind, recognizing the station's pivotal role in fostering unity and empowerment within the community. This outpouring of support has enabled the Radio station to expand its reach, upgrade its information and diversify its programming, ensuring that it remains a dynamic force for positive change in the state Manipur. Through the collective efforts of villagers and station staff alike, WAHONG Radio continues to thrive as a testament to the power of community-driven media.

Direct/ Indirect beneficiaries

Implementing Agency: Bethany Society, Shillong

Implementing Site (District & State): East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

Objectives: 

• Providing professional training courses for securing employability skill sets, to gain employment in IT and other prime departments.

• Skill Set Training focusing on different job Modules.

• Hands-on experience in specific job profiles based on trainees’ skill set “BE THE CHANGE! ENGAGE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND GAIN COMPETENCY!”

Deliverables/Outcomes/Success Stories:

• Before embarking on this course, each of the trainees faced numerous challenges, recounting instances of societal exclusion due to their visual impairment.

• However, they have now taken the crucial step to make a difference and integrate themselves into society. Their journey, encapsulated by the phrase "Abhimaan - I am able," was shared with the audience during the event.

• Throughout their training the trainees have undergone the orientation and intensive training as part of the Foundation Course in Computers and Employability. Their remarkable journey reflects their unwavering commitment and determination.

• They now possess proficiency in fundamental computer operations and have become adept at using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

• The utilization of screen reading software, namely JAWS and NVDA, has empowered them to independently navigate digital interfaces. Their language skills, both spoken and written, have witnessed notable improvements, enhancing their ability to engage in effective communication.

• Additionally, life skills training has equipped them with essential competencies for personal and professional success.

• In practical settings, trainees embark on field visits to institutions like public parks, markets, banks and shopping malls, gaining practical insights into the application of computer skills in different environments.

• Work shadowing interaction with government officials, companies and NGOs had gained experiences, dynamics and tasks, further building their confidence. Their journey has been marked by resilience, determination, and notable progress.

• They stand ready to enter the workforce with enhanced skills and confidence, showcasing their ability to overcome unique challenges and succeed in a variety of roles.

• Bethany Society and the Enable India team are proud to support and empower these individuals, working towards a more inclusive future.

Total people Trained: 

15 visually impaired trainees (10 Male and 5 Female belonging to ST) successfully completed the course with a bit of brush up of the 4 trainees who joined the course at the latter state.

Implementing Agency: Pynursla Presbyterian Secondary School, Pynursla 

Implementing Site (District & State): Pynursla, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya 

Objectives:

The Project “Language cum Multimedia Lab” aims at enhancing education through interactive whiteboards, digital content and online         collaboration tools, innovative communication software which may promote dynamic teaching methods, real-time feedback, and personalized learning experiences, fostering student engagement and comprehension. 

  This lab is equipped with modern computing machines, power backup with internet facilities.  

Deliverables

• This innovative project has been implemented successfully aiming at bridging the gap between the students in rural areas and availability of modern technologies. 

• This Lab was inaugurated by Sh. Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister, Meghalaya in presence of officials from NECTAR. 

• School has started incorporating course part of this lab into its curriculum

   

Direct/Indirect Beneficiaries:  

Around 110 students from the school will benefit from this lab. Further this lab will also be used to train the youth. 

Implementing Agency: NECTAR

Implementing Site (District & State): East Khasi Hills, Mawkynrew, Meghalaya

Objectives: 

• Community radio is a short-range, not-for-profit radio station or channel that caters for the information needs of people living in a particular locality, in the languages and formats that are most adapted to the local context.

• Community Radio is intended to bring about social and economic development. 

• The focus is to highlight relevant social issues, sharing the latest information with the community, providing a platform to the community to express their opinions and problems and to provide a platform to explore their own creative potentials. 

• There are varieties of programs that can be developed and aired on Community Radio addressing some of the following aspects like providing access to information to villagers, creating radio enabled literacy programs, providing a platform to students and the community at large to exploit the potential of this creative media, social development of the area by focusing on relevant social issues, creating programs on Health Care, Counselling, Vocational Training

Deliverables/Outcomes/Success Stories:

• NECTAR has launched a Community Radio Station (CRS) named as “Mawkynrew 89.60 FM Community Radio” at Jongksha village, Mawkynrew Block, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.

• The CRS will help in promoting Agriculture, Rural Livelihood & Community Development benefiting more than 100 isolated villages with a population of approximately 35,000 people.

• It is the first Community Radio Station in Meghalaya. The proposed programs are focused on issues related to education, health, environment, agriculture, local folk, art, culture, traditional knowledge, rural and community development.

• It will also encourage the voice of the disadvantaged group by broadcasting programs related to problems and limitations, issues etc, promote the cultural perspectives and interests of the minority groups and also popularize the tradition of Indigenous rural peoples with improved social participation and improved education and knowledge of self-employment.

Direct/Indirect Beneficiaries

    Direct : 2 Men, 1 Women (ST)