Radio Ninada @ 90.4 FM

Contact Person: Mr. V. K. Kadaba  

Broadcasting Language: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and English

Genesis: Radio Ninada 90.4 FM is a campus-based community radio, which has been an innovative communication tool for education, information and social empowerment of the local communities near  Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshvara College, Ujire. The CRS was established on 28th December, 2015. The CRS started with just an hour of daily broadcast and has now expanded to four hours of daily broadcast. It is known as the voice of Belthangady.  Radio Ninada is a strong influence in the region and has created a positive impact on its target community. 

Thematic Focus:  Radio Ninada  has become an avenue for people who are marginalised  due to lack of exposure. The CRS promotes a plethora of local cultures  and also  helps the community in matters related to health and legal awareness. Citizens’ rights, education, employment and entrepreneurship, and self-sustenance in agriculture and other activities are the main thematic areas of the community radio station.  

Sustainable Development Goals: The SDGs that the CRS focuses on and aspires to achieve are:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institution

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes of Radio Ninada are  Radio Engineers, Jnanamrutha, Krushi Sampada, Yuva Ninada, Yakshagana, Gana Majusha, Tuluvere Koota. These programmes broadly focus on areas like health, education, and social concerns. The CRS also broadcasts entertainment and cultural programmes during primetime, and contributes to preserving folk treasures like Yakshagana.   

Innovations in format or any other way: Radio Ninada collaborates with educational and health institutions in the area for interventions to create awareness, educate and empower the community. These interventions help the community members make significant and positive changes in their lives, while establishing a strong bond with the CRS.

The CRS also leverages the expertise of doctors and healthcare professionals from its sister concern, SDM hospital, for the well-being of the community.

Core Team: The core team of Radio Ninada is constituted by the Director, Programme Head, Programme Coordinator, and six other team members. The principal of the parent organisation acts as the Director of the CRS. 

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Ninada was part of the COVID-19 awareness campaigns in association with CRA and UNICEF. The CRS worked on the election awareness campaign in association with SMART. 

Radio Ninada also develops internal initiatives that focus on addressing specific concerns in the target community. 

Sustainable Strategies: Everything from daily expenses to infrastructure of Radio Ninanda is borne by the parent organisation, SDM Educational Society. Radio Ninada is also able to generate some revenue through the means of external projects. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Forty two villages including Kokkada, Nelyadi, Uppinagady, Vamapadapadavau, Venoor, Charmady, Mundaje, Guruvayanakere, Shishila, Nala, Aladangady, Bethnagday, and Kaniyoor Nere fall within the broadcast range of Radio Ninada. These villages have a total population of 45,000 people and the CRS has an active listener base of nearly 30,000 listeners.  

Major concerns in the Community: Lack of unemployment is a problem in the community. Lack of proper waste management strategies and inadequate sanitation facilities lead to health problems and environmental concerns.