New Delhi, Jan 10: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, is organizing the Regional Community Radio Sammelan (South) on 7th and 8th January 2026 at Kochi, Kerala. The Sammelan is being organized under the theme “Celebrating 20 Years of Community Radio in India”, commemorating two decades of community radio as a powerful medium for participatory communication, grassroots empowerment and inclusive development.

The two-day Sammelan will witness the participation of community radio practitioners and stakeholders from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, providing a regional platform for dialogue, experience sharing and policy-oriented discussions.

The Inaugural Session on 7th January 2026 will be graced by Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor, IIMC, along with Sh. L. Madhu Nag, Registrar, IIMC. Senior officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including Smt. Shilpa Rao, Director and Sh. Mahendra Kumar Meena, Under Secretary, will also be present. The Sammelan is being convened by Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Pranvendra, with Dr. Jisha K. as the Co- convener.

The technical sessions will address key regulatory and operational aspects of community radio. A special session by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Ministry of Telecommunications will focus on the Saral Sanchar Portal, followed by a session on navigating the Bharat Portal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Experience-sharing sessions will feature community radio stations from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Puducherry, highlighting best practices in content creation, sustainability of Community Radio Stations (CRS) and engagement with district and state administrations.

A dedicated session by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) will focus on the empanelment process and advertisement opportunities for community radio stations. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will also conduct sessions on documentation, participation and sharing of study reports related to CRS.

On the second day, a special session on AI, participatory processes, and co-learning will be conducted by Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Pranvendra, IIMC, followed by an Open House discussion on the way forward for strengthening the community radio ecosystem.

The Sammelan will conclude with a Valedictory Session in the presence of senior officials from IIMC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.