Community radio: a community media module for empowerment of rural women

This study was conducted with the aim of developing a needs-based community radio module for women empowerment. A sample of 1000 respondents was selected through census method in Jawaharnagar, Shantipuri, and Gokulnagar villages of Rudrapur Block in Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand. Findings indicated that rural women wanted information on the following topics through community radio programing: methods of purifying water, weaning food, immunization, HIV/AIDS, and government programs. Participatory community radio programs were developed on these issues, and then their effectiveness were assessed through knowledge testing. Findings from the test were used to develop eight modules for community radio: (1) Rapport building, (2) General information and need assessment (3) Prioritization of needs (4) Development of knowledge test (5) Design and develop CR program on women empowerment (6) Recording and editing of CR program (7) Broadcasting community radio program (8) Post-knowledge test.