Radio Sampark @ 89.6 FM

Contact Person:  Mr. Ranjan Kumar Mohanty

Broadcast Languages: Odia and Hindi

Genesis: Radio Sampark 89.6 is an initiative of People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), a 32-year-old non-profit voluntary development organisation, launched on 26 December, 2021. It promotes culture, values, local artists and talents, and caters to the needs of different sections of the society. The programmes are packaged in such a way that they are educative, interesting and entertaining, helping to strengthen ties and build awareness of common values, challenges and solutions within the community. It empowers listeners to express their opinions. 

Thematic Focus: The focus areas are broadly divided into various categories, including healthcare, livelihood and sustainable farming, development initiatives including schemes and programmes, youth empowerment, etc. Other categories include children, women, farmers, youth, elderly, devotees, literature, etc. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Sampark focuses on the following SDGs: 

SDG 1: No Poverty 

SDG 2: Zero Hunger 

SDG 3: Good Health and Well being 

SDG 4: Quality Education 

SDG 5: Gender Equality 

SDG 6: Water & Sanitation 

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 

SDG 13: Climate Action 

Primetime Programmes: The following are the primetime programmes of the CRS  – Bolehunti (a programme for kids), Ananya (a programme for women), Pragatidhara (a programme for adults), Ama Chasa (a programme for farmers in the community), Hello Doctor (a programme focusing health, hygiene, and sanitation). Folk songs and local artists also feature in these programmes. Eita Jibana is a programme for the elderly, Juba Shakti is a programme for young people in the community. Mo Kalama is a literary programme, and Bhakti programme is a devotional programme.  

Innovations in format or any other way:  The CRS uses the following innovative approaches for community outreach: attractive programme packaging, narrowcasting, engaging children and youth, radio dramas, creating listener groups in the community, and featuring local artists and voices. 

Core Team:There are fifteen CRMC members and ten individuals in the core team, including key decision-makers and support staff. Seven outreach volunteers and three part-time radio jockeys assist the core team. 

 Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Sampark has worked on a number of projects and they are listed below-

• Gender-Based Violence awareness (September 2022  to June 2023), supported by SMART. 
• Campaign on Lymphatic Filariasis (February 2023), supported by SMART.
• Accelerating IYCF including complimentary food, feeding  practices and scale to improve child nutrition across the state of Odisha (May 2022  to August 2022) in collaboration with Young India & CINI, supported by UNICEF. 
• Awareness and Community Engagement for COVID-19 Vaccination, School Reopening, Routine Immunization and Emergency Preparedness through Community Radio station in Odisha (October to November 2022), supported by Young India and UNICEF.
• Yoga Appreciation Programme  (August to October 2022) supported by CWEMC. 

Sustainable Strategies: The key sustainable strategy of Radio Sampark is to attract various funded projects and campaigns from different organisations, and also broadcasting programmes supported by the government.

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: The potential outreach within the range of Radio Sampark is more than 2 lakh people.

Major concerns in the Community: The community’s main needs/areas of concern are gender discrimination, gender-based violence, domestic violence, issues with children’s health and nutrition, health and sanitation, the environment, problems with agriculture, struggles of the elderly, lack of knowledge about government schemes and programmes, and  lack of awareness regarding law and legislation.