Press Information Bureau, Guwahati organized webinar on behavioural change

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: Community radio can play a pivotal role in bringing behavioural change in public, said LR Viswanath, Head of Department, North East Zone, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting while addressing a webinar organized by the Press Information Bureau, Guwahati in collaboration with Brahmaputra Community Radio Station, Dibrugarh on Monday.

The topic of the webinar was 'Behavioral change in public during COVID-19'. Vishwanath also said that community radio must share COVID-19 awareness among the masses. It can play a major role in bringing behavioural change like maintaining social distancing, wearing mask and sanitizing hands. He further added that electronic media, particularly television channels and social media, were being extensively used for effective communication for dissemination of best practices of COVID management. But the target audience covered under these platforms is not enough. Therefore, the use of community radio in this direction was both need of the hour and imperative, he said.

Community radio covers a particular community and segment which in turn covers the local issues and is even successful in the dark areas where the other platforms of communication cannot reach, Vishwanath said.

Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhuyan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, spoke extensively on mental health during COVID- 19. He said that maintaining calm and positive approach was essential during this crisis period.

Dr Ankuran Dutta, Head of the Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University, talked about the role of community radio on behavioural change during COVID-19. He said that strategic communications through community radio could bring positive behavioural changes among the people.

Dr Alankar Kaushik, English and Foreign Language University, Shillong spoke on the use of language in media during COVID-19 and the significant role it played in disseminating information. One should be very careful of the language being used while spreading the messages on COVID-19. He said that use of sensational language should strictly be avoided as it might create panic among public and hence defeat the entire objective.

Gitali Kakati, State Social and Behavioural Change Communication Consultant, UNICEF, in her deliberation, talked about risk communication and community engagement. She said that during this crisis time emphasis should be on positive news and how many people had recovered must be highlighted.

Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Station Head Brahmaputra Community Radio Station, Dibrugarh, said that community radio was a very strong medium to disseminate information in the region as it was popular among the people.

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