Alfaz-e-Mewat
AbbreviationAlfaz-e-Mewat
Formation28 February 2012 (2012-02-28)
TypeCommunity Radio
PurposeProvide a voice to rural communities on development issues and promote local culture.
HeadquartersAgriculture Research Station, SKNAU, Village Naugaon, Alwar District, Rajasthan

Alfaz-e-Mewat FM 107.8 (Rural voices of Mewat) is a community radio station established in 2012 by S M Sehgal Foundation with seed funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, under its Agricultural Technology Management Agency scheme.[1][2][3] The radio station is located in the Agriculture Research Station of village Naugaon, in Alwar district, Rajasthan.

Villagers, schoolchildren, and local artists participate in radio programs and interviews. Community members manage the station as technicians, producers, and facilitators. In areas without radio signals, villagers listen and participate by calling a toll-free number.[4][5][6][7]

Listener Community

The Mewat region, now called Nuh,[8] served by Alfaz-e-Mewat has been identified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs as a "minority-concentrated backward district" with problems in basic areas such as water availability, agricultural production, health, literacy, and a lack of awareness about government entitlements and services.[6] Most people in the region are Meo Muslims, a unique and distinct composite culture. Because women are often isolated at home in these rural communities, community radio provides "a window to the outside world" and a tool for empowering women and girls.[4][9][10]

Presently, the community radio covers parts of Mewat (Fiozpur-Jhirka and Nagina blocks) in Haryana and parts of Alwar (Ramgarh Block) in Rajasthan.

Programs

Alfaz-e-Mewat FM 107.8 broadcasts 13 hours a day, seven days a week,[11] Information and communications technologies increase program reach outside the immediate geographic coverage area. Narrowcasting collects program feedback and facilitates community dialogue. Live streaming, mobile apps, and podcasts provide program content access to and from anywhere worldwide.[12]

  • Villagers hear about and discuss best practices in water management and conservation, health and sanitation, education, agriculture, environmental awareness, and local participation.
  • Awareness campaigns and programs discuss social issues that affect citizens.
  • Oral folklore, poetry, music, and storytelling programs showcase the area's cultural heritage, history, and people.[13]
  • Women broadcasters invite women to take part in conversations about local issues.[14]
  • Educational programs that cater to children include Galli Galli Sim Sim (the Indian adaptation of Sesame Street) and Radio School tutoring in science, math, and English.
  • In daily interviews, experts and others share their experiences and achievements from varied walks of life.
  • Listeners' needs are shared with government administrative services.[15]
  • Programming is shared with other community radio stations.[16]

Awards and Recognitions

  • Alfaz-e-Mewat's founder representative Pooja O. Murada has co-authored a book 'Community Radio in India' with Dr. R Sreedher, a radio expert, published by Aakar and supported by UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office.[19][20][21][22][23][24]
  • Won the third prize in the National Awards for Community Radio, 2019 edition.
  • In 2021, Alfaz-e-Mewat backed second place for the Sustainability Model Award in the 8th Community Radio Stations award.[25]
  • In July 2023, Community radio station Alfaz-e-Mewat FM 107.8 was awarded the national award for its sustainability model by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Community radio Alfaz-e-Mewat launched-Tribune News Service".
  2. ↑ "e-Community Broadcasting Winner 2015-The Manthan Award Digital Inclusion for Development".
  3. ↑ "Community Media". S M Sehgal Foundation. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Radio Revolution - A look at the device's reach in rural Haryana | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Daily News and Analysis. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  5. ↑ ""Rural voices: Unheard to empowered" Report of a conference held on 3rd May 2012 by IRRAD, Sesame Workshop India Trust and UNESCO at Gurgaon". indiawaterportal.org. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 "All we hear is... Alfaz-e-Mewat | Business Line". thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Community Media: Alfaz-e-Mewat FM 107.8, Mewat, Haryana | profile by CommunityVoices.in". communityvoices.in. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Gurgaon District to be renamed Gurugram, Mewat as Nuh: Haryana Government". "Express News Service" 13, April 2016. 13 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Why the secret to village empowerment lies with women-DailyO". Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Speak Up, Don't Be Shy: Reflections From Community Radio's Work on Gender Issues". The Journal of Development Communication.
  11. ↑ "A 13 hour broadcast marks 3rd anniversary of Alfaz-e-Mewat". UNESCO Chair on Community Media. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Alfaz-e-Mewat Storyteller for Android - APK Download".
  13. ↑ Preeti Mehra, "All we hear is... Alfaz-e-Mewat", http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ , Retrieved 10 October 2016
  14. ↑ Pooja Murada and Arti Manchanda Grover,Women's Voices: Engaging the Excluded,http://rmi.sagepub.com/," Retrieved 24 October 2016
  15. ↑ "'Talk on Law' on your radio waves" (PDF). S M Sehgal Foundation. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Pooja O Murada speaks about the potential of community radio for social change". Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, New Delhi. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "e-Community Broadcasting Winner 2015: Giving voice to Mewat community via community radio-The Manthan Award Digital Inclusion for Development".
  18. ↑ "Awards for Alfaz-e-Mewat and Waqt Ki Awaaz-UNESCO Chair on Community Media".
  19. ↑ "UNESCO supports Community Radio initiative". Asian Community News. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "Community Radio in India book launch".
  21. ↑ "भारत में सामुदायिक रेडियो की स्थिति बयां करती पुस्तक का विमोचन". Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  22. ↑ "भारत में सामुदायिक रेडियो की स्थिति बयां करती पुस्तक का विमोचन". Noshwind. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  23. ↑ "Community Radio in India - Indian books and Periodicals". www.ibpbooks.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  24. ↑ DoordarshanNational (2 April 2019), TV Report I Book Launch on Community Radio I Good Evening India, retrieved 3 April 2019
  25. ↑ "Development Communication to social change, here is what made it to 8th Community Radio Stations award". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Alfaz-e-Mewat Community Radio Honored With National Award I S M Sehgal Foundation". 24 July 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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