[cr-india] Community Radio Stations make their mark

[Jaisakthivel]

PUDUCHERRY: Community Radio Stations (CRS) have made dissemination of information easy for several rural communities in Puducherry. Catering to a diversified population, the stations have started to rope in community members, thereby enhancing community participation.

The coastal town has three CRS – all run by educational institutions. With imparting community-specific information, the stations in Puducherry have been airing programmes on various social and environmental themes, health-related issues, general knowledge and education.

Going on air from January 2009, Puduvai Vaani 107.8 M.Hz, the CRS of Pondicherry University has been covering areas within 15 to 20 kilo metres of radius reaching out to villages including the coastal areas of Kalapet and Pillaichavady. It has completed 1,785 hours of transmission till June with nine hours of transmission time on weekdays and 12 hours on weekends.

“Puduvai Vaani reaches out to school students, fishermen, women, and public with various themes of life,” Director, Culture and Cultural Relations of the university, A. Balasubramanian said.

Saturdays and Sundays were dedicated to educational programmes. Apart from the students of the university, those from Pondicherry Engineering College and B.Ed institutions presented programmes on the CRS, while housewives do “Mangayar Cholai” programme.

“The university has allocated Rs. 50,000 to distribute 500 radios with Puduvai Vaani signal. Students who come to present one hour programmes will get radios instead of the honorarium,” Professor Balasubramanian added.

Nila CRS at 90.4 M.Hz was another CRS in Puducherry. Established in 2005 by Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, the radio covers an area of 15 kilometres including areas in Bahour, Nettapakkam and Manadipet.

“We involve the local self help groups in all our local productions. We provide remuneration for the participants and motivate their involvement,” Principal of the college V.S.K. Venkatachalapathy said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/10/stories/2009071050690200.htm
- Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India.


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