MADURAI
Representatives from 10 radio stations across Tamil Nadu participated in a State-level community radio workshop on Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), conducted at DHAN Foundation’s resource centre here on Monday.
P. Krishnamoorthy, Programme Leader, DHAN Foundation, said that the mission aimed at discussing areas like stunting, undernutrition, anemia, low birth weight among children while also addressing problems related to adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Participants from Dindigul, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Madurai took part in the programme and exchanged ideas on promotional methods.
“September has been declared ‘nutrition festival month’ by the Central Government. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommended the usage of community radio to disseminate the news on pertinent topics in rural areas. A total of 42 radio stations were called for a national seminar earlier this month. In continuation, the Monday’s programme aimed at promoting localised content generation,” he said.
The main aim of the seminar is to encourage consumption of indigenous food products among people living in different parts of India. Eating food supplements like gooseberry or guava which were laboriously grown in many parts of the Tamil Nadu would help in augmenting nutrition, said experts there.
There were 26 community radio stations in Tamil Nadu, said Mr. Krishnamoothy. “Promoting positive approaches towards health and nutrition is necessary. In Madurai’s Kottampatti radio called ‘Vayalaga Vanoli,’ the people discuss topics, including breastfeeding, best farming practises and horticulture. The people from the village are regularly featured and are involved in the programming, criticising and recording as there is ownership,” he said.
Mukesh Mohankumar, Station Head of RathinaVani based out of Coimbatore, said that such a programme would help in curbing anaemia and infant mortality.
“We have planned to have an expert talk followed by a quiz show where the community answers questions regarding the topic. The winners will get small prizes from the radio. The programme will end with a signature community song,” he said.
The head said that their radio channel would be doing a behavioural analysis over 30 days to gauge the extent of reach. He added that more such workshops ought to be conducted to help a regular exchange of ideas on topics of national interest.