Seminars, Workshops & Conferences
World Development Foundation has been organising professional development events — seminars, workshops, national conferences, and training programmes — on community radio, ICT in agriculture, broadcasting, science education, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030).
Event Management Expertise
With a combined experience of over 20 years, WDF is a vibrant organisation specialising in event management — seminars, conferences, exhibitions, AGMs, annual days, product launches, awards nights, fashion shows, calendar shoots, and more. We bring together professional managers, designers, and creative teams to deliver every event with excellence.
WDF also organises custom tutorials, symposiums, and capacity-building workshops tailored for groups of scientists, experts, and officers based on their specific needs.
- Use of radio, TV, new media & satellite Internet for development communication
- Science education & technology dissemination through participatory workshops
- Cost-effective, total-solution event management for corporate & institutional clients
Event Timeline
A chronological overview of WDF's major seminars, workshops, and national conferences spanning two decades.
National Conference on ICT and Mass Media in Agriculture and Education for SDG 2030 — New Delhi, 29 November 2019
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the International Community in September 2015 seek to address hunger, poverty alleviation, democratic governance, climate change, and economic inequality. This conference focused on how technology — Cloud, New Media, Internet, Broadcasting including Community Radio — can be leveraged to achieve the SDG 2030 targets and the Hon'ble Prime Minister's mission to double farmers' income.
Keynote: Ms. Aprajita Srivastava, Executive Director, WDF. Chief Guest: H.E. Dr. Manoj Nardeo Singh, Secretary General, AARDO. Special address by Dr. Peter Chen, Embassy of Taiwan. Participation from Vice Chancellors, agriculture experts, media professionals, and government officials across India and abroad.
SDG 2030: Keynote by Aprajita Srivastava in National Conference
SDG 2030: Inaugural address by President and CEO, World Development Foundation
National Workshop on Use of IT & New Media in Science Education — India International Centre, New Delhi, 17–18 March 2010
Co-sponsored by Media Lab Asia (MCIT), CSIR, Mariah Studios, OSBS Pvt. Ltd. & Gateway India Enterprises. Inaugural session addressed by Shri Yogesh Kochhar (Director, Microsoft Corporation), Shri S.N. Goswami (MD & CEO, Media Lab Asia), Shri Sandeep Marwah (National Chairman, IFTRC), Dr. (Mrs) Malti Goel (Scientist Emeritus, JNU), and Dr. H.O. Srivastava (President, WDF). Over 80 delegates from educational institutes, universities, NGOs, and CRS operators attended.
Inaugural Session: L to R — Sh. P.K. Singh, Sh. Sandeep Marwah, Dr. H.O. Srivastava, Dr. (Mrs) Malti Goel, Sh. Yogesh Kochhar
Audience of the workshop. Dr. Chandra Rashmi, Executive Director WDF, on extreme left.
Dr. H.O. Srivastava, Dr. R. Sreedher, and Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi in the concluding session
Recommendations
- Rapid escalation of quality science education in the country
- Use of ICT vital for bridging the gap of qualified teachers and infrastructure
- Frequent workshops, seminars, tutorials for knowledge dissemination
- Community Radio Stations vital for science education
- Single window clearance for CRS licenses
- Ministry of Agriculture as nodal agency for CRS clearances at KVKs
- e-Content essential for uniformity of science education
- Prasar Bharati to allocate channels for science education
Workshop Presentations
Workshop on Community Radio for SAUs, KVKs & NGOs — NASC Complex, New Delhi, 15–16 January 2009
Organised with support from Media Lab Asia (MCIT) and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The main objective was to discuss the new policy of the Ministry of Agriculture to provide funds for setting up Community Radio Stations for SAUs, KVKs, and NGOs under the Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms scheme. About 100 delegates from State Agriculture Departments, SAUs, and KVKs attended.
Dr. H.O. Srivastava, President WDF; Sh. R.S. Tiwaari, Jt. Secretary, Min. of Agriculture; Sh. S.N. Goswami, MD & CEO Media Lab Asia
- Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture explained the ATMA funding process
- Live demonstration of a Community Radio Station by WDF
- Success stories from Birsa Agricultural University (Ranchi) and TNAU (Coimbatore)
- Technical sessions on CRS hardware, FM choice, and monitoring by All India Radio engineers
Participants of the workshop
Address by an agriculture expert
Ms. N. Suneja, Jt. Director, Ministry of Agriculture, explaining the ATMA scheme
Address by President and CEO WDF
A Community Radio station set up in the workshop for demonstration
Medal Presentation to Director Extension, Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi
Follow-up Actions
- More such workshops in various parts of the country
- Capacity building programmes to be taken up nationally
- Additional funds for 250W transmitters in urban areas
- License fee and guarantee amount from content generation funds
- Contractual staff for operation from content generation funds
- SAUs with CRS established by MLA/WDF to get ATMA funding for content
Photos of Day One | Photos of Day Two
Workshop Presentations
Workshop on Community Radio for Healthcare, Education & Livelihood Generation — New Delhi, 16–17 April 2007
Organised along with Media Lab Asia, MCIT, Government of India. Chief Guest: Shri R. Chandrasekhar, I.A.S., Addl. Secretary, MCIT. Guest of Honour: Shri Kiran Karnik, President NASSCOM.
- New policy of Government on community radio
- Steps to obtain licenses
- Hardware and software issues
- Demonstration of the system
- Use of community radio for healthcare, agriculture, farming & livelihood generation
Key Participants: Prof. C.R. Hazra (VC, IGKV Raipur), Dr. Baldeo Singh (Jt. Director, IARI), Dr. Room Singh (VC, NDUAT Faizabad), Dr. G. Selvaraj (Director, TNAU Coimbatore), Dr. R.P. Singh Ratan (BAU Ranchi).
L to R: Shri P.K. Singh, Dr. H.O. Srivastava, Shri R. Chandrasekhar, Shri Kiran Karnik, Shri S.N. Goswami
On Dias: Shri Arvind Kumar, Shri E.K. Bharat Bhusan, Shri D. Singaravelu
Seminar on Community Radio Station — New Delhi, 10–11 January 2007
A two-day seminar focusing on methodology to obtain license, install, and operate community radio stations for spreading education and social awareness among the poor and socially disadvantaged. Distinguished participants included Shri D. Pathak (Former Director, IB & Member NSAB), Shri R. Mani Naidu, and Shri V. Kurian (CMS).
- Present scenario of CRS in India and the world
- Regulatory issues and obtaining license
- Setting up and operating CRS
- Content development and acquisition
- CRS for socially challenged people
On Dias: Shri P.K. Singh, Shri R. Mani Naidu, Shri D.C. Pathak, Dr. H.O. Srivastava, Shri V. Kurian, Shri R.R. Prasad
L to R: Shri R.R. Prasad, Sh. H.R. Singh, Shri Ghan Shyam, Shri O.P. Bhatti
Ms. Aprajita Srivastava, Director WDF, welcoming the guests
Seminar on Broadcasting and IT for Education and Social Development — New Delhi, 25–26 March 2004
WDF's inaugural seminar. Chief Guest: Prof. Yashpal, Scientist Emeritus and former Chairman UGC. Keynote Speaker: B.S. Bhatia, Director, DECU, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad.
- Present scenario of broadcast and IT
- Future of broadcast technology and IT
- Setting up FM stations for educational institutes
- Use of IT and computers at village level
- IT for physically and socially challenged people
L to R: Dr. H.O. Srivastava, Shri K.R. Harish, Prof. Yashpal, Brig. S.V.S. Chowdhry, Dr. B.S. Bhatia
Prof. Yashpal delivering the keynote address
L to R: Shri K.R. Harish, Dr. V.R. Singh, Shri N.M. Mehra, Shri Y. Venkateswarlu
Lifetime Achievement Awards
WDF honours distinguished broadcasters and academicians who have made significant contributions to broadcasting, education, and nation-building.
Padma Shree H. S. Jolly
Awarded for: Most significant contribution in the field of broadcasting in the post-independence era.
Padma Shree H.S. Jolly was instrumental in the rapid expansion of radio and TV in the country. He is especially remembered for the rapid colour TV expansion by installing 180 TV stations at the rate of one TV station per day — a world record for which he received the Padma Shree from the Government of India.
Life Time Achievement Award from President WDF Dr. H.O. Srivastava to Padma Shree H.S. Jolly
Citation
It is with great pleasure and deep gratitude that I announce the "Life Time Achievement Awards" to two most distinguished broadcasters of post-independence era for their tremendous contribution in shaping the course of broadcasting in this country.
The name Padma Shree H. S. Jolly conjures respect and reverence in the minds of many. Padma Shree H.S. Jolly was instrumental in expansion of radio and TV in the country. He is especially remembered for the rapid colour TV expansion in the country by installing 180 TV stations @ of one TV a day, making a world record for which he received the Padma Shree from Govt of India. Sir, there can not be one workshop involving broadcast engineers without admiring your unachievable contribution. You set the path of broadcasting in the country by your untiring effort and great vision. A taskmaster, he executed all the tasks with basic ingredients — consistency and an absolute commitment to excellence. A man of few words and always believing well done is better than well said. Sir, your untiring efforts in the growth and expansion of the broadcasting in this country have touched the hearts of us all and you have shown a path to the future generation.
Padma Bhushan Jasdev Singh
Awarded for: Most significant contribution in the field of broadcasting in the post-independence era.
A legendary sports commentator whose voice was synonymous with Indian sports broadcasting. He had the unique distinction of doing commentary of Independence Day functions at the Red Fort for 47 years, and covered nine Olympic Games, six Asian Games, eight World Cup Hockey tournaments, numerous cricket matches, and over 250 documentaries.
Life Time Achievement Award from President WDF Dr. H.O. Srivastava to Padma Bhushan Jasdev Singh
Citation
An important signature in the field of sports commentary, a man to whom the entire nation has lent its ears, a man with a magical charm in his voice, Padma Bhushan Jasdev Singh has the unique distinction of doing commentary of Independence Day functions at the Red Fort for 47 years. In addition, he had made the commentaries of Olympic Games (nine times), Asian Games (six times), World Cup Hockey (eight times), a number of cricket matches and over 250 documentaries. Sir, you not only gave a direction to the way the commentary is done, but you created a passion and patriotism in the field of sports. There are numerous followers and appreciators of your style and charm.
The size and magnitude of contribution of these two visionaries has created a very meaningful impact on the outcome of the broadcasting. On behalf of the Broadcast Fraternity, I thank you.
At this occasion, let me quote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "Lives of great men all remind us / We can make our lives sublime, / And, departing, leave behind us / Footprints on the sands of time."
The footprints left by you shall be followed by generations to come. World Development Foundation is honoured to bestow upon you the Life Time Achievement Awards for most significant contribution in the field of broadcasting in the post-independence era.
Sh. B. K. De
Awarded for: Former Engineer-in-Chief, Doordarshan. Recognised for exceptional leadership in Indian broadcasting engineering and infrastructure development.
Prof. Dr. Debkumar Mukhopadhyay
Awarded for: Vice-Chancellor, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University. Honoured for distinguished contributions to higher education, research, and academic leadership.
Prof. Dr. Debkumar Mukhopadhyay receiving the Life Time Achievement Award
Introduction Video
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