[cr-india] The Letter that we received from MIB

Fri Feb 15 09:47:05 IST 2008

It's very unfortunate that the application of PARD is rejected by the MIB.
By this e mail there seems no reason to reject this application. I think CRF
should take tough action to fight against ministry's this action and we
should ask the reasons to reject the CRS application under RTI. I think this
would be the first ever RTI application for LOI allocation for CRS. We
should take it seriously and force the ministry to come out with reasonable
reasons to reject the application otherwise ministry will start to reject
anybody's application without proper reason.

Nimesh

On 2/13/08, PARD <pardmadurai at eth.net> wrote:
>
>  Dear friends,
>
>
>
>
>
> I was writing in this group for more than three months regarding the
> status of our application for setting up of Community Radio in Thirumangalam
> Block in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.  We submitted our application in the
> month of March 2007 and we were called for presenting our appliction before
> the screening committee during the month of September 2007 and our name was
> not in the LOI issued on 15th November and our several enquiries including
> to this forum was not at all responded and finally we have got the response
> from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that our application is
> rejected as per the guidelines.  We are not sure under what guideline the
> Ministry is considering the applications for the grossrootlevel NGOs like
> PARD.
>
>
>
> Ours is a registered under Societies Registration Act, and we are running
> our 20th year in serving the community.  We have a very good track record
> for these years.  We have also got registered under Foreign Contribution
> Regulation Act from 1994 and submitting all our annual returns without any
> delay and so far no question has araised on our activities for the
> development of the society.  The FCRA registration and submission of annual
> returns are also under the control of the Ministry of Home Affiars.  It was
> earlier said that as clearance from MHA is not received we were not issued
> with LOI and now the MIB has rejected our application as per the guidelines
> which is well known to the MIB alone.
>
>
>
> I have raised my doubts on the clearance of the ministries and the
> approval of license by the MIB and still we have several doubts which we
> donot want to go into the details.  But these things should be cleared.
> Unless and otherwise these things are cleared Gross root level NGOs like
> cannot involve in setting up of Community Radio Station in India.
>
>
>
> With warm regards,
>
>
>
> James.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> *From:* sajan venniyoor <venniyoor at gmail.com>
>
> *To:* cr-india at sarai.net
>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:01 PM
>
> *Subject:* [cr-india] Steve Buckley on CR in India
>
>
> *'Nothing reaches out like radio' *
>
> Deepa Kurup, 11 Feb 2008, The Hindu**
>
> http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/02/11/stories/2008021158270200.htm
> *
>
> Policy on community radio criticised / People are recognising radio as a
> key medium
> *Bangalore: It is easy to get carried away by the policies formulated by
> the Indian Government which favour the growth of community radio. However,
> it takes some level of objectivity to realise its limitations and point out
> the existing anomalies.
>
> Even as civil society organisations celebrate and pontificate over new
> strategies to adopt, Steve Buckley of the World Association of Community
> Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) points out that the policy itself leaves much to
> be desired.
>
> Speaking to *The Hindu* on his visit to India to assess and understand the
> community radio scene here, Mr. Buckley says that the policy is restrictive
> in nature.
>
> "The fact that any organisation starting a station needs to be at least
> three years old does not provide a conducive atmosphere for the growth of
> new concepts," he explains. He draws attention to the fact that these
> stations are not allowed to broadcast news, which, he says, is a concept not
> prevalent anywhere in the world.
>
> "In recent years, owing to the dotcom boom and bust, somehow people have
> started recognising radio as a key medium," he asserts. He uses examples
> from well networked and technologically advanced countries such as South
> Korea which have taken to community radio in a big way, and Mozambique where
> over a 100 community radio stations have sprung up after the end of civil
> war. He believes in the power of radio and more so in the prospects of it as
> a tool to bridge barriers.
>
> For most of us, the concept of community radio — with stations such as
> Namma Dhwani in Budhikote and Kalanjiam in Nagapattinam — largely belongs to
> the rural realm. Mr. Buckley thinks that there is enormous potential for it
> in the urban context as well.
>
> The Sheffield Radio station which he runs caters to refugees, migrants,
> artists and provides a forum for everyone to interact.
>
> So, is community radio comparable to the trend in commercial radio
> programmes which are turning more participatory? Mr. Buckley disagrees. He
> feels that all said and done, commercial stations are motivated only by
> commercial imperatives which do not have any development value.
>
> Participation is certainly the key. "When you put ownership in the hands
> of the listener you get a very unique dynamic," he explains animatedly.Mr.
> Buckley is aware of the countless hurdles faced by community radio in India.
> "Namma Banuli," the Karnataka State Government's initiative which allocated
> funds worth Rs. 1 crore to prop up community radio has not had many takers.
> "For this to take off the cost factor needs to be worked out and we must
> move towards making equipment and infrastructure affordable," he added.
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> YOU CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY RADIO FORUM (India) BY JOINING AND TAKING AN
> ACTIVE PART IN ONE OF THESE NETWORKS
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-awareness  (Awareness building)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-helpdesk (Offering help)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-policy-advocacy (Policy advocacy)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-techoptions (Technical options)
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> YOU CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY RADIO FORUM (India) BY JOINING AND TAKING AN
> ACTIVE PART IN ONE OF THESE NETWORKS
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-awareness  (Awareness building)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-helpdesk (Offering help)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-policy-advocacy (Policy advocacy)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crforum-techoptions (Technical options)
>
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