[cr-india] Impacts of Community Radio: Case Studies

[Frederick "FN" Noronha]

http://www.aidindia.org.uk/cr_nl_oct06/cr04.htm#cs1
 Impacts of Community Radio: Case Studies
The power of community radio lies in its participatory nature, as both
its content and technology are people-oriented. Some of the live case
studies from the field bring about the impact of the community radio
in the region.
The following examples show how the programme being aired through the
community radio has affected the people and brought about the
behavioral changes among them.
	Errant brought to book
  	

Farming is the only livelihood for Chero community living in Eruwa
village of Lesliganj block of Palamau district. Mid-day meals scheme
started in year 2005 for the student was served only for a month in
the whole year. Many attempts of perseverance by local villagers
failed to influence the school authority. The issue was raised and
broadcast by Radio listener club of 'Chala ho Gaon Mein' in the month
of January2006. The villagers united and complaint against the school
teacher before the District Commissioner of Palamau. The Commissioner
himself found the truth of complain made. He immediately served a
suspension order. But the teacher was able to survive on the patronage
of local officials till June 2006. A reporter of this programme again
reminded and requested to the Commissioner about this situation. The
Commissioner was surprised and immediately released a suspension order
and also cautioned the local officers of the administrative actions.
The very next day, i.e., on June 7, 2006 the teacher was finally
suspended from the duty.The matter was published in the daily
newspapers.
	Sensitization towards better health
  	

The region of Ghatshila in East Singbhum district of Jharkhand is
malaria prone area. Malaria being the sensitive issue, a programme was
prepared on the same and broadcast on radio on 9th October 2005.The
people of the region liked the programme so much that they demanded
for the re-broadcast of the same episode. With updated matter the
programme was again broadcast on 6th of November 2005 under the title
'brain malaria'. The sale of mosquito net was found to pick up in the
region. Thus people were sensitized as a result of the message through
the radio broadcast.
They also demanded to highlight the issue of sanitation. The episode
on the same was prepared by the villagers and made to broadcast on
30th of April 2006.
	Health Alert brings delivery of services
  	

Biphan Paswan, ex–sarpanch of Sagalim panchayat of Panki block was
stunned by seeing the apathy of the health officer in Palamau when his
elder daughter in law died due to carelessness during delivery. He
became conscious after listening to the episode related to national
rural health mission and the provisions under it. He then took the
help of community radio activist and the member's of the listener's
club to start a rally to demand provision of adequate health services
in the district. They submitted a memorandum complaining about the
absence of the doctor in the PHC, non availability of medicine and
requested the local authority to disclose all the information
regarding the health budget. They demanded an enquiry in to
misappropriation of health budget funds and approached the District
Commissioner to take action against it. The issue was taken up
seriously by the district authority and medical services in the
concerned PHC were restored.
	No more voiceless
  	

Manager of the Gramin Bank of Katar village in Garhwa district refused
to open passbook in the name of the Puja Mahila Samitee, the self-help
group. With the help of listener's club of Katar, the group approached
the local authority. The group discussed the matter with the Block
Development Officer and submitted a written complaint to him. In
response to their appeal letter, the BDO took up the issue and
instructed the concerned bank manager to facilitate opening of the
bank account for the group.
	Voices-thirsty but loud
  	

Community Radio instigated people in Panki, Satwarwa and Lesliganj
blocks in Palamau district to stage a mass rally at Tumbagarha Block
to demand their access to drinking water. These areas are known for
its acute water crisis during summer season. Though the local
authority is aware about the problems of the people, no such steps
were undertaken so far. With the intervention of community radio
listener's club, the SHG group and the gram sabha members, this rally
was undertaken. As a response to this, the local authorities took
initiative to repair hand pumps, install new pumps in the villages.
-- 
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