MICAVAANI 90.4 FM: MICA’s Own Community Radio Station

What is MICAVAANI?

MICAVAANI is MICA’s own community radio station that operates on the frequency 90.4 FM. Here, students manage an independent media platform dedicated to social relevance. It transmits within a 7 km radius from the Institute and reaches four villages, namely; Shela, Ghuma, Telav and Kaneti. The student-run committee manages the functioning of the entire studio and station indulging in activities such as content production, programming, research and marketing functions.

What does MICAVAANI do?

Programming:

The radio broadcast is carried out six days per week, from Monday to Saturday from 8 to 10pm. The programmes are constantly reinvented to adapt to the requirements of the listeners and give them a platform to showcase their talents and stories through various shows. The shows that are aired are as follows: 1) Monday ka Funda- On science 2) Aapno Swasthya- On health and well being 3) Cutting Chai- On short stories 4) Des Vides- On Travel and Living 5) Aapki Kahaani Aapki Zubaani- Stories from the community by the community 6) Saturday Adda- On Entertainment

Since its launch in 2005, MICAVAANI, it has been on a constant endeavour to carry forward the vision and mission of MICA of improving lives through communication. All along, the major emphasis has been on familiarising the listeners with new developments in various fields such as education, health & sanitation, finance, farming, etc.

Research:

Apart from the programmed shows that go on air, the committee pays regular visits to the villages via activations and research trips. These trips help the team to understand the life, issues, need gaps and topics of relevance to the community better so as to address their problems through the medium and bring about changes in the existing programming. This is done through conducting depth interviews, observations, survey filling and various other methods of research.

Achievements

A grand activation in the four villages marked the start of the year. MICAVAANI then collaborated with UNICEF on two occasions. On both these occasions, a group of adolescent girls from Rajkot recorded shows about their tales of trials and tribulations. The second collaborator was GREENPEACE. MICAVAANI was the official Ahmedabad city representative for the NGO’s #SaveTheArctic30 campaign. Finally, the year ended with MICAVAANI organising Aapno Manch, a painting and elocution competition for primary school children in Shela.

Amidst all this, a two phase research was conducted in the four villages. This research was a first of its kind for MICAVAANI and MICA. The database obtained was tabulated and will be updated at regular intervals of time henceforth. The aim of the research was to understand the behaviour, beliefs and values of the villagers; which will be used in churning out relevant content.

Future plans

In the coming years, MICAVAANI wishes to increase the listenership in the villages, strengthen the bond with the listeners and leverage the medium of radio as a platform to empower and educate them. MICAVAANI also aims at making the listeners an active part of the content generation process.