Dhimsa Radio @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Mr. Sanjit Patnayak 

Broadcasting Language: Desia (local dialect) and Odia

 Genesis: Radio Dhimsa was established in 2008 by South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA) in Koraput, Odisha. The CRS was established with the objective to bring desired social change focusing on developmental issues of tribal communities while offering a platform to the rural folk to voice their concerns as well as empower the local artists to showcase their talents.  

Thematic Focus: Radio Dhimsa broadly focuses on strengthening the knowledge and awareness of the community so that they are aware of their basic rights and entitlements. Radio Dhimsa reaches to the last of the community members for effective delivery of government guidelines and information. The major themes that are a part of regular radio programmes are learning initiatives for school children, informative on health, hygiene and nutrition, income generation operations for sustainable livelihood, child rights and child protection with gender lenses which the community radio undertakes through broadcasting and narrowcasting.   

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Dhimsa focuses on the SDGs that focus on  community’s needs:  

SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation 

SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth 

 Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes of the radio station are as follows: 

• ‘Geet Kudia’ is a programme where local artists showcase their talents in folklore. 
• ‘Susta Gagod’ is a programme based on community health. 
• ‘Krushi Suchana’ is a programme disseminating information on agricultural schemes, techniques and tools relevant to local context etc. 

• ‘Kenta Kale Kenta Hoisi’ is a programme which focuses on how to avail government benefits under different schemes.  
• Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, Radio Dhimsa broadcasts educational content for the students from class I to class V. 

Innovations in format or any other way:  Radio Dhimsa conducts extensive narrowcasting specially in the remote locations. Its engagement with the listeners is ensured through different activities including puppet show, street play as well as capacity building and training of different stakeholders. The CRS is engaging the village youth to develop scripts in local tribal languages and records them in children’s voices to establish a stronger and deeper connection with the community.  

Core Team: Radio Dhimsa has a team that includes the Station Coordinator, a radio jockey and seven volunteers who are responsible for the daily activities and smooth operation of the CRS. Three senior staff with knowledge on radio management and the focus areas help manage the station efficiently. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Dhimsa has undertaken several major projects in collaboration with UNICEF, Young India, CINI, Community Radio Association, CEMCA, and various government departments to create awareness among community members regarding health and hygiene, child marriage, IYCF practices, child labour etc.

Radio Dhimsa has been instrumental in generating mass awareness on COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour and addressed vaccine hesitancy among rural population. It has been effective in promoting IYCF practices among the tribal communities and improving sanitation and hygiene practices among them. Over the years, the community has become aware of child rights and protection, the problems of child marriage and child labour.  

 Sustainable Strategies: The community-driven approach of the CRS with the support of the local community makes it a community-managed entity. Secondly, Radio Dhimsa is a vision of South Orissa Voluntary action (SOVA), a non government organisation which manages the CRS as an effective communicative IEC/BCC tool making it sustainable. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Radio Dhimsa reaches out to  a population of approximately 1,60,000 people in 62 villages in Koraput and Lamtaput blocks in the district of Koraput.  

Major concerns in the Community: The major areas of concern within the target audience are adult illiteracy, lack of access to quality education, poor health infrastructure and lack of adequate livelihood opportunities. Hence, Radio Dhimsa would continue to deliver needful information to the community on various government schemes and programmes, and gear up its awareness campaign through various platforms.