KATHMANDU, Aug 8: The South Asian Community Radio Conference is kick-starting here Tuesday under the theme of 'Community Radio for Sustainable Development'.

The two-day regional event being organized by Association of Community Radio Broadcaster (ACORAB) is supported by Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development ( AIBD), Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communications ( BNNRC) Broadcasting Union.

The purpose of the first ever conference in the entire South Asia is to highlight the role of community radios towards sustaining development efforts being the partners of community and to exchange experiences towards that end, organizers shared in the press meet held in the capital on Monday.

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun is scheduled to inaugurate the conference tomorrow morning at Thamel-based Hotel Marsyagndi.

Some 100 participants and experts from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the UK are taking part in the conference.

Minister for Information from Bangladesh and Ambassadors from the South Asian countries are attending the event. The conference will conclude issuing the Kathmandu Declaration with expectation that that it would prove to be a guiding document for all community radios across the world.

Among the key agendas for discussion in the conference are role, responsibilities and operation of community radio in South Asia as a means of social empowerment and transformation, its roles in disasters and collaboration with community radios on social causes, stated ACORAB Chairperson Mohan Chapagain on the occasion.

ACORAB is an umbrella organization of 292 community radios currently in operation across the country. RSS

 
• south asian community radio conference
 
• community radio for sustainable development