Gaon Connection

Gaon Connection (GC) is India’s biggest rural media platform. It was founded in January 2012 with its first printed newspaper version out on December 2, 2012 along with the creation of rural distribution channels. It has since expanded to several other verticals, including audio, video, digital and an extensive ground activation. Our footprint is across remote rural areas in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and soon expanding to other Hindi speaking states. In its print and digital avatars, Gaon Connection takes information and knowledge to rural communities. showcases governance challenges, chronicles the rural role Models and inspiring stories from rural areas. VISION-MISSION-VALUES Our vision is to work across states and languages, creating a “connection” between urban-rural and rural-urban India in an unprecedented way thereby redefining the media mainstream. Along with riding the digital revolution to amplify our reach, we stick to the principles and values of well-intentioned, old-fashioned rigour of journalism. WHAT WE DO Gaon Connection is actively involved and runs ground activation through a massive community outreach programme ("Swayam Project") which creates community journalists. It works with schools, self-help groups, farmers clubs and other community bodies in remote, media-dark areas across Bihar, UP and Jharkhand to help rural citizens become powerful voices for their communities as community journalists. Our aim is also to build the Swayam Project into a global case study – the largest communication programme of its kind in the world, across states and multiple languages which has demonstrated implementable solution, resolving issues and bridging the knowledge gap which is currently a visible issue faced by rural India. Gaon Connection is supported financially by THE INDEPENDENT AND PUBLIC SPIRITED MEDIA FOUNDATION (IPSMF), backed by Mr Azim Premji and other notable philanthropists. IPSMF promotes excellence in independent, public-spirited and socially impactful journalism and has been supporting Gaon Connection Private Limited for the purpose of reporting and publishing stories of public interest.