Indian Community Radio Alfaz-e-Mewat wins National Award for ‘Kanoon Ki Baat (Talk about law)

NEW DELHI: Community radio Alfaz-e- Mewat has won National Award by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in thematic category for its program ‘Kanoon Ki Baat (Talk about law)’.

The award was presented by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar at National Community Radio Sammelan, organized at Dr. B R Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

Alfaz-e-Mewat is being recognized for its relentless efforts towards using community radio for spreading legal awareness. Mewat is an aspirational district, with high levels of illiteracy. Kanoon Ki Baat was a thematic series on legal awareness that has been able to realize the mandate of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) which is to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society. The program helped locals understand major governance issues at the village level and also provided a platform to the local community members to interact with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Kanoon Ki Baat thus helped in strengthening the belief of people in the democratic processes while empowering them to realize their rights with the help of available mechanisms.

“Through this program, our aim is to bridge the large information divide that exists in the villages. The radio becomes a platform to connect a common village listener with the representatives from the district legal services authority.

Community radio is a proven media that reaches people at the last mile through its informative and interesting programs that are relevant for the local people shared in their local language. The national award is dedicated to all community reporters, and listeners of Alfaz-e-Mewat, said Pooja Murada, Director Communications, and Community radio Alfaz-e-Mewat.’’

Sehgal Foundation established community radio Alfaz-e-Mewat (“Rural Voices of Mewat”) FM 107.8 in village Ghaghas. The station began its broadcast in 2012. It has a reach of over 225 villages with a daily broadcast for 13 hours. It provides a media platform for local community voices in Mewat district, Haryana. Since the most essential participants in grassroots development work are local voices, the station broadcasts in the local language in an accessible format, so that listeners can learn about, discuss, and debate important local issues, such as government policies, programs, services, entitlements, agriculture information, and water conservation initiatives.