Pudiya Udayam @ 91.2 FM

Contact Person: Mr. K.Senthilkumar

Broadcasting Language: Tamil

Genesis:  Pudiya Udayam Communuty Radio Station was established on 24th November 2015, in Poothurai village, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Pudiya Udayam means ‘new dawn’.Pudiya Udayam 91.2 FM radio station is an initiative of Sri Aurobindo Rural & Village Action & Movement (SARVAM). The CRS focuses on creating an impact through integral rural development by designing interventions and programmes across various areas. The CRS combines information and entertainment to engage the community while raising awareness on different social concerns. 

Thematic Focus: Besides providing means to make rural communities more aware and being involved in their development process, the community radio station is also designed to meet the increasing informational needs of rural people. In order to ensure that the community is educated, informed and entertained, Pudiya Udayam broadcasts programmes focusing on several topics. The purpose of the platform is also to preserve numerous aspects of local culture and tradition, while also focusing on education, health, women empowerment, youth and vulnerable lives etc. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Pudiya Udayam Radio focuses on the SDGs given below:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes that feature on Pudiya Udayam are:

• Chinnanchiru Malarkal- Chinnanchiru Malarkal is a programme aimed at improving the health and education of children. Students visit the station to perform and showcase their talent, helped by their parents and teachers.
• Sathanai Pengal – Several women experts in different fields give interviews to improve the quality of women’s lives, and successful women entrepreneurs share their experiences for others to learn from. 
• Gramathu Kuilgal – Women from the rural areas, especially those belonging to the vulnerable and marginalised, are invited to community radio station, so they can perform songs, dramas, and speeches on various themes. 

Innovations in format or any other way: The CRS hosts interventional events in  more than 60 villages and promotes community radio programmes, in association with SARVAM.

The CRS encourages participation from community members including children and women from SHG to share their experience and to perform at the gatherings. This practice nurtures a greater interest in the programmes of the CRS. 

Core Team: The CRS has a team of eleven members which includes the Station Director, Station Manager, five field assistants and a panel of experts..The field assistants coordinate with the community and facilitate content development for programmes. 

Major Projects Undertaken: The CRS is presently working with Shanti Ashram on initiatives focusing on the wellbeing of adolescents, and the eradication of poverty. The CRS has been  a part of externally funded projects, while also actively working on its internal initiatives for community welfare.

Sustainable Strategies: The parent organisation, SARVAM, completely funds the CRS at present. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: The CRS covers about thirty villages around Pondicherry. The total population in the region is nearly 50,000 people and the CRS has an active listener base of approximately 20,000 listeners. 

Major concerns in the Community: The major concerns in the community include a lack of awareness of government policies and schemes for public welfare. The community also suffers from a lack of employment opportunities, and low wages. There is a need for better educational and healthcare infrastructure.