Port Blair, Jan. 23: A three day community radio awareness workshop being conducted by Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), Ministry if Information & Broadcasting in association with Directorate of Disaster Management, A&N Administration commenced today at Megapode Nest Resort.

The workshop was formally inaugurated with the traditional lighting of lamp by the Chief Economic Advisor Director, Ministry of I&B Shri B. Brahma. Addressing the gathering Brahma explained the difficulties and the advantages of setting up community radio stations. He said that the ministry had interacted with around 150 NGOs in Baramati, Maharashtra as none of them were willing to come forward. Hence a regular scheme to popularise the concept was taken up. The Chief Economic Advisor accepted that there has been a delay in spreading the scheme in the A&N Islands but hoped that the concept would be of immense benefit to the various communities in the islands.

Dr. R. Sreedher, Director CEMCA on the occasion dwelt at length about the concept of Community Radio. He explained that All India Radio is a public service broadcast while others are commercial radios which includes various FM channels. Community Radio is next in line and this makes it a three tier system.

He further apprised the participants that a Community Radio unlike AIR or Commercial FMs can be set up in a small room, provided the Govt. of India issues licenses. It can be run even from a small office, he said.

The licence issued is for a period of five years with few simple conditions. In Indonesia and Thailand there are thousands of such Community Radio Stations functioning, he said. The A&N Islands should have atleast a hundred in the coming years, the Director CEMCA hoped.

Shri Ashok Sharma, Director, Disaster Management, A&N Administration welcomed the participants and the visiting delegates. He also explained how Community Radio can be set up in various parts of the islands through NGOs, Institutions etc.

Among the others who discussed the concept were Shri Inderjeet Grewal, CRS Cell, Ministry of I&B, Shri P. Chandra Sekaran, Joint Wireless Advisor, WPC, Shri Vipin Sharma, Media Expert and Shri Madan Mohan Singh.

A demonstration of simple recording, editing technique, live transmission, archives, records to be maintained etc. was also a part of the first day workshop, which was dealt by Shri. R. Narsimha Swamy, General Manager, BECIL.

The three day workshop would conclude on 25^th Jan. 2012. As many as 50 participants have enrolled themselves for the workshop, which is first of its kind in the islands.