[cr-india] radio waves for rural issues

[sajan venniyoor]

Radio waves for rural issues
ISHITA BOSE CHAKRABARTY, The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070216/asp/jamshedpur/story_7400376.asp

Ranchi, Feb. 15: Two years ago, the welfare department had distributed bicycles for free to high school female students.

However, the school authorities of Bhakasi village collected Rs 100 from each student for the bicycles.

The students heard about the government scheme in a community radio programme. Subsequently, they raised the issue of money being charged by schools on air.

The controversy led to an inquiry and suspension of the responsible school authorities.

Now, cashing in on the reach of the radio, AID, a city-based NGO, is all set to launch their Nagpuri community radio programme, “Awaaz Apki Prayas Hamara” on Friday at 6:15 pm from All India Radio (AIR) FM channel, 103.3 MHz.

“Awaaz Apki Prayas Hamara” will deal with urban poverty and other issues faced by slum and street dwellers, tribals, rickshaw pullers and migrants, said Alok Singh, coordinator of AID.

The first show will discuss the problems of workers in high-tension factories that have closed down.

AID, says Singh, also holds similar community radio programs in Ho, Santhali, Bengali and Mundari languages.

The history of community radio in Jharkhand dates back to 2001 with the broadcast of “Chala Ho Gaon Mein” in Magahi.

Shiv Sharan Choudhary, liaison officer of AID, said: “Community radio reaches 80 per cent of the rural and poor populace in Jharkhand. It is conceived, developed and managed by the poor and addresses their real issues and sufferings. It communicates the voice of the poor in accordance with their choices, independent of external influence or interference.”

There is no room for artificiality, abstract matters and unknown issues here as the rural folk decide the content, develop scripts, enact dramas, discuss issues and give the local population the news of the region that remains unreported, said Anupama Singh, media coordinator, AID.

Manthan is another NGO that airs a community radio. Y. Ram, coordinator of community radio programmes in Manthan said: “Our programme targets the rural people of Angara and Lohardaga.”

Field reporters Manthan and AID facilitate the programmes by interacting with the people, recording and editing the episodes.

After a few episodes, the rural people take over everything from scripting to presenting the programme.
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