Community Radio for Rural

Development: Issues and StrategiesDr. Arpita SharmaAssistant Professor,

GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

Contents Definition of Community Radio

Concept of Community Radio

Community Radio initiatives world-wide

Some Community Radio cases

Researchable areas

Definition of Community RadioDefinition of Community Radio

Community radio is a type of radio service that caters to the interests of a certain area, broadcasting content that is popular to a local audience but which may often be overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcasters.

(UNESCO 2002)

Contii--- Community radio will be an effective tool in protecting

and promoting local culture. Besides, community radio is the best way to meet the needs of communication at local level because community radio helps creates a place where various people in the community including seniors, youths, mothers with small children, students, religious leaders, people with disabilities meet.

-

Ullah and Chowdhury

Contii--- The community radio is a form of local radio which defines itself as an autonomous entity – and relies on the community for its survival without any commercial aims or objects.

Community radio is 'a medium that gives voice to the voiceless, that serves as the mouthpiece of the marginalised and is at :he heart of communication and democratic processes within societies.

Lewis (1995)

Contii---

So Community radio is a local radio and

participatory in nature, owned and run by the community, to serve the needs of the people. Community radio aims to change social conditions and improve the quality of cultural life through meaningful and relevant programme. People actively take part in formulating the station's policy, strategy and programme content.

Concept of Community radio

Advantages Community Radio

Scaling up information and communication capacities at GrassrootsCapacity building and skill up-gradation Improve living conditions through relevant content in local languagesProviding a pubic interfaceBroadens the media choices of listeners and media consumersIndependent nature and responsibility to serve the communitySocio-cultural-economic impact in poverty reduction, in addressing development objectives and in democracy buildingA medium to facilitate oral communication traditions with development issues

Characteristics of Community Radio

• It serves a recognizable community.• It encourages participatory democracy.• It offers the opportunity to any member of the community to

initiate Communication and participate in program making, management and ownership of the station.

• It uses technology appropriate to the economic capability of the people not that which leads to dependence on external sources.

• It is motivated by community well being, not commercial considerations.

• It promotes and improves problem solving.

Principles of Community Radio Operation

Access Participation Self-management Community mandate Accountability

Functions of Community radio

Facilitate rural development and agricultural promotionEnsure local level good governance and accountabilityDisaster managementProtect and promote local or community culture and traditions

Contii---

Establish democratic and participatory media scenarioMinimize divide through bridging between local and national issuesCommunity radio empowerment and promoting the right to knowEnsuring social progress and curbing injustice in society

Contii--------

Reflect and Promote Local Identity, Character, and CultureCreate a Diversity of Voices and Opinions on the AirProvide a Diversity of Programmes and ContentEncourage Open Dialogue and Democratic Process

Contii-------

Promote Development and Social ChangePromote Civil SocietyPromote Good GovernanceEncourage Participation, Sharing of Information and InnovationGive Voices to the VoicelessProvide a Social Service as a Replacement for the Telephone

Contii------

• Contribute to Diversity in Broadcasting Ownership

Distinct Features of Community Radio

Facilities Sources of SupportManagementProgram MakersProgramsBroadcast Hours

Radio Community RadioState owned and control Community owned and

controlled National priorities Local priorities and issues National/Regional language

Local idiom and dialects

Large geographic area Small focused area Centralised Decentralised (functional

autonomy) One – way communication Two – way communication

(proximity encourages participation)

Assumes homogeneity of audience

Preserves cultural identify

Difference between Radio and Community Radio

Community Radio Initiatives in India

Anna FM @90.4 MhzLaunch in 2004Place: Chennai, Tamil NaduRun by: Anna University    Area covered: Kannigapuram, Kotturpuramm, Balajinagar, Saidapet, Little Mount, Kobalitittam, Chitra Nagar, Ventakapuram, all within a 10 km radius.Population covered: Students and dense urban population Profile of community: Students, day laborers and housewives

Contii--

Target audience: 70 per cent female audience. Women listen and also participate in the programs. Infrastructure: One transmission room, one recording room and large auditorium. Permanent staff: ThreeTransmission time: 11 hours. 7 am to 6 pmMedia Faculty-10Frequency-90.4 MHz

Programmes through Anna Community radio

• Police Community Interaction• Women Empowerment• Entrepreneurship management• Vazhkaiyin Vannangal (life style programme)• English Language Programme• Samudaya Nerkaanal (Face-to-Face with the Community Live Phone-in Interactive Talk

Show)• Music Programme• Science Awareness• Consumer Awareness• Carrerrs Guidance• Management matter• Natchathira Nerkaanal (Interviews with lesser known stars from the community}• Community matter• Programmes for Visually Challenged• Arokiya Vazhvu (Health is wealth)

Strengths of Anna Community Radio

To arrange for experts, celebrities and academia to appear at events or participate in phone-in programs.

During festivals, debates are organized and celebrities are invited.

Students from the Department of Media science volunteered to anchor Samudhaya Neerkaanal, a live phone-in community program.

Gyan Vani Community radio

Launch in 2001Initiated by the Human Resources Development Ministry and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) with the help of Prasar Bharati.Operate as ‘Media Cooperative’ with the day-to-day programmes being contributed by various educational institutions, NGOs, government and semi-government organizations, UN agencies, Ministries such as Agriculture, Environment, Health, Women and Child Welfare, Science & Technology, etc. besides National level Institutions such as NCERT, NOIS and State Open Universities.   

Contii---Area covered: operating presently through Allahabad, Banglore, Coimbatore FM stations of India on test transmission mode. The network is slotted to expand to a total of 40 stations by June-2002.Range: 60 km and covers an entire cityTarget audience: Students of Open/Conventional Universities. Transmission time: 6am-10amPurpose- Enhance teaching learning processMedium of Language- Hindi or English

Programmes

Awareness programmes on Panchayati Raj Functionaries Women Empowerment Consumer Rights Human Rights, the Rights of the Child Health Education Science Education Continuing Education Extension EducationVocational Education Teacher Education Non-formal EducationAdult EducationEducation for the handicapped Education for the down troddeneducation for the tribals

Contii---Channels: four channels catering to different cross section of audiences, GD1, GD2, GD3 and GD4, GD5

Areas Coverded: Agra, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Srinagar, Trichy and Thiruvanathapuram at the Indira Gandhi National Open University( IGNOU),New Delhi on the occasion of a decade of Gyan Darshan , Educational TV Channel of India, of IGNOU

Holy Cross Community RadioOn air since: December 2006.Vision: Community Radio as a new participatory medium.Focus:

Enhancing participation of the local rural community in development

Building capacity through education Providing creative opportunities to upgrade skills in the field

of their interest Location : Holy Cross College, Tiruchirappalli (Tiruchi / Trichi), a city in Tamil Nadu, south India.Frequency: 90.4 Mhz

Contii---Main target audience: Students, home makers, youth and farmersPrimary Themes:

To creating awareness on topical information in areas of agriculture, social welfare, education, health and environment

To preserve and promote the traditional wisdom, knowledge and skills, thereby helping to promote arts, crafts, culture and traditions of the rural population.Preferred Formats: Integrating wide range of issues creatively in different formats like skit, magazine, folk songs, quiz, talk shows, discussions, phone in, interviews, characterization helps to seize the attention of the listeners.

Contii--Broadcast Timing: 6.00 to 11.00 am and 3.00 to 8.00 pm Management structure: The well constituted staff and volunteer structure has helped the station to increase their broadcast hours from two hours to a ten hour of daily broadcast

SIVANTHI Community radio (90.4 MHz)

Place: Aditanar College of Arts and Science, TiruchendurOn air since: 14th October 2007Functioning at Aditanar College of Arts and Science, Tiruchendur      Area covered: 15 km and covers an entire cityPopulation covered: Students, Women, MenTransmission time: 6am-10amObjectives: To create awareness about health care, education, female literacy, self employment and environment preservation in the minds of local community

Radio ActivePlace: Bangalore. Housed: Mahaveer Jain college Launch in:Frequency:107.8 MHz and radiates its programmes at 100 W.Area covered: 15 km and covers an entire cityPopulation covered:Transmission time: 3hr-4hr/dayPurpose-

Contii---• Focused Areas: Environment, Women Empowerment,

Children in Need, Animal Welfare, Disabled , Human Rights Persons Welfare

• Objectives: To educate the children of migrant construction workers, and focus on development and welfare of the labourers in general.

DU Community Radio Station

Launch in: 2october 2007Started by: Delhi University at School of Open Learning located in the North Campus of the varsityFrequency: 90.4FMRange: 10 KMBroadcasting Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the evening

Programme• Awareness on health, • Hygiene • Anti smoking • Gender sensitization• Environment and other issues related to local

communities.

Contiii---• Phone-in Programmes with the experts on Health,

Education, stress management, Environment, interpersonal relationship between parent and children, examination stress etc.

• Spreading awareness among the students about various careers, career counseling and broadcasting other socially relevant programmes.

• Broadcasting the programmes of campus and colleges such as seminars, workshops, lectures, discussions, debates, cultural functions etc. for the student communities.

Contii----

• Conducting (including academic counseling) interactive programmes for the students enrolled at School of Open Learning who could not get the opportunities for face to face teaching learning process.

• Broadcasting different community based programmes with the help of community members residing in the adopted slum areas and the community residing around Delhi University

KONGU Community Radio Station

Initiated in Kongu Engineering College Campus, 31 st March 2003Programmes: Lectures, Seminars, Conferences, Skit and topics on Community DevelopmentVision: Help to create a community with equal access to Knowledge, Information, Participation and RightsMission: Utilise community radio to secure freedom of expression, general welfare and social upliftGoal:Empower even the poor, illiterate, voiceless and unreached members of the community to claim and acquire legitimate freedom and entitlement Broadcasting timings:

• 07.30 to 10.00 AM• 12.00 to 2.30 PM• 3.30 to 7.30 PM• Totally 9 hours at present

MICAVAANI Community radio• Launch in: 14th November 2005• Range: 5 Km• Programmes detailing various government schemes

for the rural population, job opportunities, good agricultural practices, alternative sources of employment, health and hygiene, the status of women, educational broadcasts for the village children

• Target Group: Rural communities

Jamia Community Radio• Launch in : 2005• Run by the AJK Mass Communication Research

Centre of Jamia Millia Islamia University.• Frequency- 90.4 FM

Sangham RadioOn-Air since: October 15, 2008, but narrowcasting since 1998. Initiatives: Deccan Development Society Community Media TrustLocation: Village Machnoor, Jharasangam Mandal, Medak District, APMain Target Audience Primary audience is rural women from the marginalized groups, also targets rural people in general.

Contii--Prime Themes: Seed sovereignty and women; Food sovereignty and women; Women and biodiversity; Women and land; Ownership; Women and ecological agriculture; Ecological enterprises for rural women;  Healthcare and plant medicines; Herbal care for animal diseases; Making children’s education relevant to rural milieu; violence against women; legal education for women.

Broadcast Timing Daily between 8 pm to 9.30 pm (total 90 minutes). There is a plan to increase broadcast upto four hours daily in the next six months.

New Idea Local issues, global vision - programme designing to be done at the community level; Women Speak to Women: Completely focused on women’s issues.

Our Voice (Namma Dhwani) - India

Launch in : September, 2001Programme : agricultural, medical, educational, and cultural programmesTarget group: Men, Farmers, Rural entrepreneurs, Children and YouthOperated: A partnership between VOICES, MYRADA, UNESCO, and poor farmer groups in the Boodkote sector in Kolar – kicked.

Contii----

• Development Issues: Agriculture, Children, Youth, Environment, Health, Economic Development.

People’s Action for Rural Development (PARD) Vaanoli Community Radio

• Launched in:• Coverage area: 60 villages with in a radius of 12 to

15 Km• Target group: Farmers, men, women, children• Timing: 4 hours daily starting from 3.00 pm. to

7.00 p.m• Programmes: Education, Health, Environment and

Legal awareness, Sustainable Agricultural Techniques, Information on Government Schemes

'Jago Mumbai'

• Frequency: 107.8 FM• Range: 10 kms, Mahim, Juhu, Andheri,

Carter road, Bandra, Versova and cover a pollution of two million in the area

Radio NamaskarLaunch in:Focus Area:• Local Self Governance• Human Rights• Right to Food/Information/Education.• Disaster Management• Gender Equity• Societal Peace• Survival of indigenous trade & cultureFocal Group:• Student• Fishermen• Women• Farmer

Contii----Immediate Objectives:• Promote communicable link among the proposed villages to develop an

enabling environment for an “all time connection” among them that will ensure flow of information/benefits & access to all amenities and benefits for the targeted people. 

• Promote a group of trained and organized youths/women from target group who will sustain the momentum of project.

Development Objective:• Ensure access to information, amenities and benefit packages provided by

Govt. • Ensure above benefits quite affordable for the people who are unable to avail

that from private source. • Enable the beneficiaries to share & communicate their problems in

democratic manner with redressal agents (Govt. officials, departments etc.). 

Programme:

• Local Governance • Food Security • Women in Front • Youth for Development

Social Impact of

Community Radio

Rural Development and Agricultural Promotion

Agriculture knowledge on Agriculture knowledge on • Right practices, Right practices, • Inputs, Inputs, • Processes and Processes and • Markets has to reach every farmer Markets has to reach every farmer

Protect and promote local or community culture and

traditions• Community Radio will be an effective tool in

protecting and promoting local culture.• Community Radio Station will broadcast in

local dialect, reflecting local culture with local performers, interests and offering locally composed music and programme of the area as well as the country.

Ensure Local level Good Governance and Accountability

• Community Radio assists people to obtain their right by giving them a platform to express their grievances.

• Community Radio has enormous potential of voicing the concern with in and between communities.

• Effective Communication tool, Community Radio can promote a high level of transparency and accountability by playing the watchdog role at all spheres of local public administration and good governance.

Democratic and Participatory Media

Scenario• Community Radio can contribute by taking the opportunity to

eradicate existing problem of credibility and Urban biasness of the central radio broadcast system through providing authentic news and pro-people local programme contents.

• These kind of participation will help in strengthening the bond between the development activities and the community people and development compact association with the community development initiatives by the Government and other organization.

Community Radio empowerment and

promoting the right to know• Community Radio offer concrete means for

public participation and for cultural diversity.• The content includes political and economic

news that facilitate community dialogue and involvement, community and personal message information programme and culturally relevant entertainment.

Social progress and curbing injustice in the

society• Community Radio helps to balance

inequalities.• Community Radio can contribute through

providing the means for cultural expression, community discussion and debate and facilities political engagement through providing news and information.

Contd--

Advancement in Health InfrastructureEffective Sharing of InformationEducation programme

Application of Community Radio in

various fields

Health

Women & Child - Health & Nutrition - A Community Radio Initiative in Participatory Science

Communication

This paper is written by Ms. Ujjwala Tirkey (2009), Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC). This research paper describes that participatory programme related to health of the women was developed and showed to the rural women and the findings show that the results was positive.

Education"Education is one of the most

important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to

participate fully in the development process."

Community Radio for women Literacy: Insight and lesson from an Indian Experiment

Agrawal (2007) reported that “Project in Radio Education for Adult Literacy” (PREAL) was carried out to impart literacy through radio and support the awareness and functionality components of PREAL Project in Radio Education for Adult Literacy (PREAL) used radio to promote literacy skills (reading only) and to facilitate teaching of literacy in Adult Women Education Centers. The underlying premise was that 15-20 minutes of radio broadcast once a week (and its repeat broadcast as well as repetitive use in the non-broadcast mode) would reinforce learning among women and supplement teaching of literacy skills by instructors.

General

Contii-- This study of Banjade (2007) is about Community

Radio Madanpokhara (CRM) in Palpa district in Western Nepal. CRM has been on the air on frequency modulation (FM) band serving 800,000 potential listeners in the region since 2000. Triangulating in-depth interviews, observations and an audience survey as methods, this research explores the nature and extent of the local residents’ participation in the communication process. The listener used community radio for information and entertainment.

Contii-- Myers (2008) reported that radio is still the dominant

mass medium in Africa with the widest geographical reach and the highest audiences compared with television (TV), newspapers, and other ICTs. The author states that radio seems to have proven itself as a developmental tool, particularly with the rise of community and local radios, which have facilitated a far more participatory and horizontal type of communication. Radio can also help bridge the digital divide by providing a powerful tool for information dissemination and access, especially for hard-to-reach rural audiences

Contii--

Shively(2009) reported that for a highly populated and predominantly rural country like India the edutainment of the masses is essential. This can be achieved by utilizing the concept of a Community Radio more effectively. Community radio tells the story of the people and helps communities striving to speak out and be heard. Community radio has provided means of empowerment to the community. It has given children the chance to speak confidently.

Contii-- Bhatnagar (2008) reported that Government of India

announced its Community Radio Policy in December 2002, which was later liberalised in 2006. Community radio gives the people a medium to express themselves, a platform to air their concerns, to be heard, considered and acted upon, thus increasing their dignity and self confidence. People generally come forward to gain skills, to be part of the community group, to share their interest in music, anchoring or to increase their social circle. A carefully planned orientation process is very important to map the potential of individuals and to filter out committed volunteers to form the core team.

Mode of Presentation

Straight Talk by Political Leader.Interview on the spot or in the studio with the Gram Sarpanch, Pradhan.Debate/Dialogue/Discussion involving rural people.Portrayal of success stories, development personal, farmers and other rural people Stories, drama, playsSongs/poemsDemonstration of new techniques

CONCLUSION

• Community Radio is truly a people's Radio that perceives listeners not only as receivers and consumers, but also as active participants and creative producers of content.

• Community Radio covers all developmental and rights based issues and updates listeners on the latest developments in environmental, policy related and other issues.

• Community Radio has the responsibility to help sustain the diversity of the local cultures and languages and thus should be supported through legislative, administrative, and financial measures.

Contii---Community Radio contributes to social change by initiating or accompanying communication processes.

CR Institutions must carry responsibility for being effective in facilitating civil society development in democratic processes.

Developing a range of diverse models and experiences that work on the ground based on different social, cultural and economic parameters.

The community must form pat of the creators, movers and active beneficiaries in this mass technology oriented approach towards informed development.