Local Radio 88.8 FM launched in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar(22/08/2025): A new community radio station, Local Radio 88.8 FM, was launched at the Press Club of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, by leading voluntary organization Young India.

This is the second milestone of Young India in the field of community radio, after it established Odisha’s first such station, Radio Namaskar, at Konark on February 12, 2010. Addressing the gathering, dignitaries emphasized that Local Radio will serve as the voice of the common people in the Twin Cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and play a vital role in promoting community participation and social change. In the inaugural discussion session, moderated by B.N.Durga, Senior Program Manager, Piramal Foundation, panelists including senior journalist Satyaprakash Nayak, Samadrusti editor Sudhir Pattnaik, UNICEF education specialist Lalita Pattnaik, ActionAid associate director Debabrata Patra, and Rabindranath Bahinipati of Konark Sahitya Sansad, highlighted the far-reaching social impact of community radio in Odisha. Founder of Young India and Radio Namaskar, popular community media guru N.A.Shah Ansari, shared the vision and mission of Local Radio 88.8 FM, dedicated to the people of the Twin Cities.

On this occasion, the report on NIPUN Odisha campaign, prepared by Radio Namaskar, was released.

Researcher Andaz Aaron presented key findings from the project. The second session, chaired by eminent Gandhian S.A.Safique, featured senior journalists Sandeep Sahu and Sampad Mahapatra, former Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture Prof.D.N.Jena, and Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, PIB, who formally launched the broadcast of Local Radio and wished for its growth and success. On this occasion, appreciation certificates were presented to peer community radios including Radio Outreach, Radio Juhar, Radio Sampark, Radio Mahak, Radio Garden, Radio Swaraj, and Radio Namaskar. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by social worker Kumud Satapathy.

The program was coordinated by Rozalin Pradhan, S.Kajal, M.Niyaz, Bishwaranjan Bishwasri, Nihar Ranjan Beura, and Gyan Ranjan Biswal of Local Radio.