Manickam A, Knowledge Hub
On World Radio Day 2026, Radio Kotagiri celebrated 12 years as a community radio station. The organisation established the station in 2014 as the first community radio initiative in the Nilgiris district.
The World Radio Day 2026 theme, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence,” highlights radio’s ability to evolve by embracing new technologies while staying rooted in people’s voices. Radio Kotagiri demonstrates this balance by combining traditional community engagement with innovative communication approaches to serve grassroots communities.
Since its inception, Radio Kotagiri has grown into a strong community-driven media platform. The station amplifies local voices and addresses critical grassroots issues. Over the past twelve years, it has implemented and supported initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives focus on education, health, environment, agriculture, forest rights, human–wildlife interaction, and access to government welfare schemes.
Radio Kotagiri also promotes media education by offering radio training to school students. Students actively participate in programme production and present their voices on air. This engagement builds their confidence and strengthens their communication skills while connecting them to real community concerns.
Rooting Radio in the Community:
As part of the World Radio Day 2026 celebrations, the station organised a stakeholder and community meeting. More than 25 representatives from surrounding communities and the Forest Department attended.
The team held the meeting at Keystone and focused discussions on the future of community radio. Participants explored ways to strengthen community participation and ensure that local voices address village-level issues. They gave special attention to human–wildlife interaction, a growing concern in the Nilgiris. They also emphasised the need to foster constructive dialogue between communities and the Forest Department through radio programmes.
Participants described community radio as a bridge between the public and authorities. It enables transparent communication, spreads awareness, and encourages collective problem-solving. The discussions reaffirmed Radio Kotagiri’s role as a trusted platform for community voices, cultural preservation, and sustainable development in the region.
