Bhopal journalist wins Digital Activism award
- Shubhranshu Choudhary, beat 3 other high profile contestants to win the prestigious 2014 Digital Activism Award from the U.K.-based charity organisation Index on Censorship, for his Central Gondwana Net Swara community radio, started in 2004 in Raipur.
- Anyone can call up the radio station & listen to news or can record any report in either Hindi or Gondi, which is later available for all callers to listen to.
- Radio complaints are verified & augmented with assistance from local activists who are trained by CGNet.
- The involvement of women’s groups has popularised CGNet Swara in Madhya Pradesh, they paint the radio’s contact numbers on mud huts & use music for promotion of radio.
- CGNet Swara receives nearly 170 calls everyday who call to vent grievances.
- Although it originated in Chattisgarh, it has fast caught up in MP, UP, Maharashtra, AP & Odisha.
- They have started AdivasiSwara.org, which is the only website in Gondi script along with providing training in Bhili & Santhali speakers to use radio.
Exams Perspective:
- CGNet Swara
- Digital Activism Award