Women Empowerment
- Superwoman award – An award to identify and honour exceptional women in the region: On International Women’s day 2021, Kadal Osai FM conducted a competition for the people in the region to recognize and honour 3 women in the region who have been doing exceptional work in various fields like social service and alternative sustainable methods. The competition was conducted through radio broadcast and social media where people were asked to nominate the superwoman they knew. The women who received the most nominations were selected as the winner of the competition. The winners were Ms.Nambulakshmi, Mrs. R. Suganthi and Mrs. Nithya Selvi (TNEB Assistant Engineer) who have done exceptional work in the fields of social service, alternative sustainable methods and disaster control respectively. The winners were invited to the radio station to share their experiences and motivate other women in the region to come forward and express themselves to achieve great things.
- Poshan Maah: Nesakkarangal Charitable Trust’s Kadal Osai FM has participated in the Government of India’s POSHAN Abhiyaan since 2019. As the focus of Poshan Abhiyaan 2020 was on improving the health condition of young women and children with malnutrition, and on kitchen gardens, Kadal Osai FM collaborated with the Integrated Child Development Services of Ramanathapuram district to produce programs addressing the theme of the year. ICDS’ district project officer Ms. Jayanthi, district assistant project officer Ms. Shalini, and 3 CPDOs Ms. Indira Gandhi, Ms. Thenmozhi and Ms.Vijaya provided interviews to the community radio station explaining in detail the work done by them, and also spoke about Antenatal care, nutrition and kitchen gardening. Anganwadi workers also participated in the Poshan Maah celebrations of Kadal Osai FM with their organization ICDS.
- Projects and programmes to address the issue of child marriage: The trust takes a firm stance against any kind of activity that hinders the growth and development of women. The trust’s Kadal Osai FM has been involved in a project to raise awareness on the evils of child marriage with CRA and UNICEF.
- Empowering women employees: Often, the women coming to work in the trust’s community radio station have several issues in the background. The trust takes great care to help them with self-development and to learn new skills. Employees are taught skills such as RJ, audio and video editing, reporting, and software skills such as photoshop. With these skills, they will be able to stand on their own feet even if they need to leave the radio station and move somewhere else.
- Government schemes: Government schemes intended to benefit women are announced on the trust’s radio station so that the necessary people may benefit from it.
- Radio programmes to support women: An original broadcast programme prepared and produced by Kadal Osai FM, “Paranthu Sellava” is a show to empower women. In this show, various subjects including health issues and tips related to menstrual hygiene, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers are also addressed. Apart from this, the difficulties faced by the women in the region, and ways for them to attain financial freedom are discussed in many of the radio’s programmes including live caller interaction shows. The radio station has also completed several health based projects in collaboration with other organisations in India targeting adolescent girls, young children, and pregnant women to motivate and educate them to follow a healthy lifestyle and to tackle or prevent general health issues faced by them.
- Elite Ultramarathon swimmer Ms. Sucheta Deb Burman’s 2 way Palk Strait Friendship swim: Nesakkarangal Charitable Trust and Kadal Osai CR acted as supporting partners for Elite Ultramarathon swimmer Ms. Sucheta Deb Burman’s 2 way Palk Strait Friendship swim from Dhanushkodi to Thalaimannar and back from March 23 to March 24, 2022. Ms. Sucheta created a landmark by swimming across the Palk Strait from Dhanushkodi to Thalaimannar (34 kms) in 10 hours and 9 minutes. Unfortunately, hindrance in the form of high tides and jelly fish stings caused her to end the return swim just 7 kms short of Dhanushkodi. She has promised to return to complete this attempt soon.
