On Air: Rural Guj women reach out through 'Rudi no Radio'

Sangeeta Solanki was confined to household activities until she enrolled herself for Sewa’s computer course. However, following her association with Sewa, she now proudly sits at the editing table, involved with improvising the quality of radio programmes to be broadcasted on Rudi no Radio- a Self Employed Women's Association (Sewa) - its first Community Radio Station in Manipur village near Ahmedabad.

This ‘edutaining’ program would help 10 villages in the vicinity of its head station in Manipur village. While earlier, women in villages only indulged themselves into making cow dung cakes, Sewa's initiative- to start Rudi No Radio- has made hundreds of women get access to knowledge from infotaining programs, turn into producers. What’s more, these women also stand a chance at becoming a Radio Jockey!

The station was officially launched on Thursday at its office in Manipur village and to listen to its edutaining programmes, one needs to simply tune into 90.4 FM. The launching of the radio station is a major platform for thousands of women who will be able to listen to programmes with practical information on health, education, career options and solving of civic problems like bad road condition and water distribution - also congratulating someone on a special occasion in village through special program- Vadhamn can be easily done.

Namrata Bali, managing director of Sewa Academy- under which Rudi No Radio is conceived, said they designed the programme keeping in mind the novelty of subjects. “We will broadcast programmess for eight hours a day and these programmes will be divided into eight themes - which will cover normal village talks of women, tips on Satvik or healthy way to live life, elders' experiences in villages and career guide programs," added Bali. Programmes of Rudi no Radio will be heard in 20 villages around in 10 kms of area.

"We had to listen to bollywood songs in other FM stations but now we can also listen to folk songs and Gujarati songs. Also, it will give us an opportunity to participate in it," said Rupal Makwana, a resident of Nigral village near Manipur.

Sewa has spent Rs5 crore to come up with the state of the art recording studio with equipments worth Rs15 lakh for the studio donated.