[cr-india] "May God save Community Radio: Experts"

[sajan venniyoor]

May God save Community Radio: Experts
February 25, 2010, MM Network, Gaurav Maurya
http://www.mediamughals.com/News/1/3/Article/4810/May_God_save_Community_Radio:_Experts.htm

6th and final session of second day of Radio Asia 2010 conference revolved
around the 'Thrust of Community Radio Development in India'. The session
started with the negative node on lack of audience's interest on Community
Radio, as most of the participants didn’t attend this last and final session
of the day.

'Different Roles of community radio' was the title which the last session
carried. The session was chaired by Mr. Louie Tabing (Tambuli Community
Radio, Phillipines). Whereas, the speakers for this session were R. Sreedhar
(Director, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia), Ishwar Singh
Mehla (Director, BECIL, India), P. Pavitharan (Kothmale Community Radio, Sri
Lanka), Mike Adams (Rapid Response Unit, UK) and Kalinga Seneviratne (AMIC,
Singapore).

Starting the session Mr. Sreedhar expressed his grief regarding lack of
interest from the audience for this session. He said, "Only God can save the
grass root radio from getting extinct with such a bad response from the
broadcasting." He in his presentation explained history of Community radios
in India right from the starting of privatization of radio waves.

Sreedharan also told the audience about the problems that community radio is
facing in the country. He emphasized on having a viable model for the
development and requirement of VAS attached with the community radio. He
said that there is an urgent need of developing a proper model to ascertain
the listenership of community radios in India. Capacity building in
programme production, allowing waves on Internet/DTH/IPTV platforms, faster
clearance of licensing, lack of committed of media professionals, strong
exit policy were some of the areas on which he showed concern in the
interest of Community Radio.

"It takes a minimum of 11 months to get a license to start community radio
channel. This is why only 51 channels are operational even after 7 years of
announcing the policy." Sreedharan said.

Ishwar Singh Mehla in his presentation guided about 'Economically viable
models for Community Radio'. He focused on various aspects and conditions
attached to the set up of CRs. He also explained about the use of semi
professional equipment in these kinds of channels. Mehla discussed about the
lowest and working community radio station packages.

The strongest presentation was delivered by Kalinga Seneviratne who provided
even the minute details about the complexities regarding setting up of CRs.
Giving example of a successful community radio station in Philippines he
presented 4 models of CRs.

Following him 4th speaker P. Pavitharan expressed grief on Sri Lankan
government's disinterest in setting up of CRs in the country. "There are
more than 50 commercial radio stations in Sri Lanka funded by the govt. But
it lacks interest towards the upliftment of Community radios in the country.
At present, there are only 3 CRs operational in the country."

However, the discussion ended on a positive node with 5th speaker Mike Adams
presentation on setting up of a community radio channel in just 72 hours of
any disaster. His topic was 'Role of Community Radio in disaster reduction'.
He said, "5 years ago, Tsunami changed my way of thinking and diverted me to
take Radio as a passion." He explained the role of CR in times of a natural
calamity with a sound clip carrying the voice of a survivor lady of Tsunami.

This final session despite of having low attendance of audience, witnessed
long round of counter questions from the left people. However, many of the
queries had to be remained unanswered due to the shortage of time.
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