Voice of SOA Community Radio @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Ms. Honey Patnaik 

Broadcasting Language: Odia, English and Hindi

Genesis: Voice of SOA community radio 90.4 was launched with the vision and mission to produce a wide thematic range of popular and relevant programmes to benefit the community and students at large. It was inaugurated on 15th October 2012 and has been a great educational platform through which innumerable quality-based programmes are broadcast for the community and students every day.

Thematic Focus: The major thematic focus areas of Voice of SOA are health, children and child-related issues, youth-centric problems, education, disaster management, skill development, career guidance, urban cultivation, local art and culture, heritage and traditions of Odisha, mental health, urban agriculture, and nutrition.

Sustainable Development Goals: SOA Radio aspires to involve more students in the awareness programs, especially those pertaining to the goals given below:

SDG 3 : Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 13: Climate Action

Primetime Programmes: The following are the primetime programmes of Voice of SOA:

• SOA Youngistan – A youth-oriented programme that involves students of the university in creating awareness on various topics through skits, talks, songs etc.
• Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina –  A programme that involves the community members and encourages community participation
• Badee Bagicha – Agricultural programme featuring farmers, agricultural experts, and urban farmers
• Asmita – A women-oriented programme where women and girls from different walks of life are invited to share their life stories. 
• Tuma Pari Chota Pilatiye – A popular children’s programme where school children make their own programmes under the guidance of teachers. Important health aspects are also discussed in this programme. 
• Swasthya Sankalp – It is a health-based programme. 

Innovations in format or any other way: Voice of SOA designed a unique programme to address mental health concerns among students during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. In the programme called ‘SOA Youngistan: Hum Honge Kamyaab’, the CRS created a network of students from the universities with students from other universities and started online meetings where people could share their concerns, experiences, and seek help when needed. Several subsequent sessions were organised and the programme helped several students, especially the ones who were stranded in remote places. The entire programme was planned and executed by the student team of SOA. 

Core Team: The core team of Voice of SOA has six members, which include the Officer-In-Charge, Programme Coordinator, Scheduler, Sound Engineer, radio jockeys, and support staff. The CRS has an enthusiastic group of student volunteers who actively participate in the events and activities of the CRS.

Major Projects Undertaken: The major projects undertaken by Voice of SOA are: 

Climate Change in association with UNICEF, Nutrition & Hygiene in association with UNICEF, Menstruaration & Hygiene – Breaking Myths, Millets – Magic Food, Swasthya Sankalpa, rally against child labour, Youth4Water – Save Water, Save Oceans, Save Wildlife, Eco-tourism, International Day of Yoga campaigns in association with CEMCA, Bamboo projects, and Say No to Child Marriage 

Sustainable Strategies: Voice of SOA is financially and technically supported by its parent organisation, Siksha O’ Anusandhan University. The CRS also generates revenue through paid collaborative projects with external organisations and government agencies.

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Voice of SOA has a strong outreach potential of more than ten lakh people within its vicinity. 

Major concerns in the Community: More awareness campaigns and initiatives should be organised on environmental concerns like climate change and pollution to make the community aware of the irreparable damage that is being done to the environment. Awareness programmes on a range of critical topics including health, livelihood etc. must be organised for community members living in slums and bastis.