No subject

A much-publicised World Bank-funded, government-supported programme in 
Andhra Pradesh has been scuttled by the Central Government for violating 
the law.

An official of the Department of Telecom (DoT) seized the transmitter set 
up by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in Orvakal 
village in Kurnool district for not possessing a license to broadcast 
programmes, thus putting an end to the experiment of community 
broadcasting called 'Mana Radio' or 'Our Radio'. The programme was 
launched in October last as part of spreading awareness among the community. 

A handful of the village's men and women were involved in recording 
programmes and broadcasting them once a week. The one-hour programme 
every Monday included songs, discussions and even news about the 
community and its concerns. 

According to the official who seized the  transmitter on Tuesday, he 
received an advisory from the DoT's monitoring agency to seize the 
transmitter since it had not been licensed by the Wireless Planning 
Coordination wing as required under the law. 

While senior SERP officials were reluctant to comment on the development, 
some put up a brave face saying that they would apply for the licenses 
soon and the radio would start working once again within a few days time. 

However, media experts here are sceptical since they point out that as 
per the revised norms of the Union Ministry of Information and 
Broadcasting, licenses would be granted to set up FM radio stations only 
to 'well-established' educational institutions. 

"There is no law at present under which a group of people or a 
government-supported institution can broadcast programmes by using air 
waves," said Mr Vinod Pavarala of the University of Hyderabad. According 
to a 1985 law, even owning transmission equipment is illegal, he pointed out. 

The "radio station" comprises a low-powered transmitter that has been 
installed atop a house in Orvakal village with a reach of one km, 
effectively covering the entire village.

It has two digital tape recorders which double up as editing equipment.

The programmes were heard by the community in about 50 radio sets that 
were distributed free of cost as part of the programme. Media analysts 
here told Deccan Herald that right from the beginning the SERP was 
"fudging" on the issue of license, suggesting that they were capitalising 
on a loophole in the licensing law.

They were so confident that they publicised Mana Radio as the first 
community radio of the country and it was covered extensively by the 
press and TV channels.Evidently, the confidence was inspired by the 
Telugu Desam Party's close ties with the Centre and that the programme 
was backed by World Bank funds, the analysts said.

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