[cr-india] Delhi to avail its first community radio to fightagainst natural disasters

[Atanu Garai]

IIMC's effort in spreading small broadcasting facility will help the community
radio movement greatly, but by and large it seems to be a campus radio,
dedicated to the capacity building of IIMC students. However, the infrastructure
and human resources can help other stakeholders engaged in activities like
disaster mitigation efforts.

Atanu
  -----Original Message-----
  From: cr-india-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:cr-india-bounces at sarai.net]On Behalf
Of sajan venniyoor
  Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 11:32 AM
  To: A list on community radio in India
  Cc: bbmohanty at sify.com
  Subject: Re: [cr-india] Delhi to avail its first community radio to
fightagainst natural disasters


  On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 George Lessard wrote :
  >  New Delhi, will soon be availing its first community radio >positioned at
the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).
  >After the tsunami disaster, the Union Information and Broadcasting >Ministry
has decided to set up community radio stations to broadcast >news and alerts
about imminent natural calamities.

  That's a bit of a non sequitur. IIMC had applied for its campus radio license
more than a year ago, long before the tsunami hit India. And the present CR
Guidelines do not permit campus radio stations to broadcast 'news or alerts'
about anything. It is certainly news to me that the I&B Ministry has decided to
set up CR stations to broadcast news and alerts about imminent natural
calamities.

  Regarding Prof. Mohanty's remark that he strongly feels that there should be a
CR positioned at IIMC, Dhenkanal in Orissa, 'a State prone to floods and
cyclones', he should apply for a CR License without delay. The Guidelines and
application form are available on the I&B Ministry website -
www.mib.nic.in/informationb/CODES/frames.htm. However, running a
community/campus radio station solely - or even mainly - for 'news and alerts
about imminent natural disasters' is somewhat pointless, since listeners will
not necessarily keep their radios switched on just to hear disaster warnings.
But if your radio station broadcasts useful and popular programmes, then it
becomes that much easier to interrupt your regular programmes with disaster
alerts - and save lives.

  Sajan.




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