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

[Vickram Crishna]

As usual, an intervention meant to assist filter out the ungodly (figuratively) is being used to stamp out a concept at the roots. It is easy to suggest that the two licensed stations are showcases of their kind, which simply avoids pointing to the fact that every station - were there only 4,000! not just two - would be showcases of their kind, for every station will be unique.

It is possibly this central fact that most rankles the worthies at the ministry of disinformation and leastcasting. Decades of trying to fit all thought into little boxes do not make for a situation of comfort, when faced with reality. 

It is very tragic that government has absolutely no mechanism for indicting this kind of thinking, one that is insanely and suicidally alienating the vast majority of the country. It is nearly a decade since the publication of the seminal study on satellite broadcasting in South Asia, yet its lessons seem not to have crept into what passes for thought at the ministry level. 

Let me clarify one thing: there is no doubt at all that there are many good people, hardworking and dedicated, in government. But there is no sense of cohesion in promoting a common cause: the good of the country itself, and its people. As long as this status quo is maintained, government will be increasingly isolated from the people it is meant to serve.  

 Vickram
http://communicall.wordpress.com
http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com




________________________________
From: sajan venniyoor <venniyoor at gmail.com>
To: CR India <cr-india at sarai.net>
Sent: Sunday, 25 January, 2009 10:52:04
Subject: [cr-india] "Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community Initiative"

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.com/full.asp?fodname=20090202&fname=Community+Radio+(F)&sid=1



      
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