[cr-india] "Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community Initiative"

[sajan venniyoor]

Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community Initiative
Anuradha Raman, Outlook India, 2 Feb 2009

Do the health problems peculiar to women or their superstitions have
anything to do with obtaining licences to operate community radio services?
The Union ministry of information & broadcasting seems to think so: its
latest guidelines make it mandatory for voluntary groups applying for the
licence to conduct a six-page survey on women's health by interviewing 1,000
respondents. The questionnaire has been conceptualised by the department of
science & technology and is meant for developing a radio programme, 'Science
for Women'.

No doubt, gender-sensitive surveys are useful sources of information, but
the way the I&B ministry is forcing the task on licence applicants is
hindering their primary effort. Many of them find the mandatory survey
clause unfair. For starters, they have to spend resources on conducting the
survey when there is no guarantee that they will finally be given a licence.
Says Abhjit Chakraborty, who wants to start a community radio in Purulia,
West Bengal, "I have been directed by the ministry to interview at least
1,000 respondents. I need to know how much time the ministry is going to
give me to conduct the interviews." There is no clarity on this in the
ministry. In fact, those who furnished the broad results of the survey were
asked to give the detailed responses of respondents.

Among the questions the respondents are to answer in the survey are ones
that question them on the prevalence in their community of superstitions
such as papaya being taboo for pregnant women, menstruation being a time of
uncleanliness, eclipses being bad for the health of unborn children and
pregnant women. The logic behind radio licence applicants being asked to
conduct the survey is not explained. Other questions are on adolescent
health, pregnancy, childcare and so forth.

So far only two community radio stations are operational, one in Orchha,
Madhya Pradesh, and the other in Medak, Andhra Pradesh. Another five
licences have been cleared, but the target of 4,000 by 2008 has gone unmet
and looks unlikely to be met even this year-end. And nothing has been done
to expedite the process of awarding a licence, which can take a year or
more. A committee of officials first question the applicant on his motives
for starting a station. The ministry then forwards the application to the
ministries of defence and home for clearance following which the telecom
ministry finally allots a frequency.

While those hoping to start community radio were looking forward to airing
debates on current issues, the ministry remains paranoid about allowing such
discussions. In fact, it has taken nearly five years to announce a policy
for community radio and fine-tune the guidelines. It will perhaps take
another five for civil society to engage with the true spirit of community
broadcasting.

Meanwhile, officials say it won't come as a surprise if future applicants
start fudging the survey results as a quick way to obtain a licence. One
wonders whether the ministry has the wherewithal to keep tabs on that.*
Outlook*'s questionnaire on the rationale of the survey sent to ministry
officials did not elicit a response. Perhaps they are in the 'Don't
know/Can't say' mode.

*What's Community Radio?*

   - It means broadcasting for serving the community.
   - NGOs, well-established institutions can apply for a five-year licence.
   - There are 114 applications with the I&B ministry. Only seven have been
   cleared so far.
   - The cost of setting up a radio station: Rs 6 lakh to Rs 27 lakh.

***
http://www.outlookindia.co
m/full.asp?fodname=20090202&fname=Community+Radio+(F)&sid=1
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