SIX years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the airwaves were for "public good" and couldn't remain a governmental, institutional or individual monopoly. Radio then was thrown open to commercial broadcasters and witnessed an aggressive bidding by private broadcasters for FM frequencies. But the first step towards the setting up of independent community radio stations—broadcasting for the local community rather than the advertiser—is yet to be taken. So far ngos have been buying time from air stations for small, interesting efforts in Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
voices, a Bangalore-based developmental communications organisation, has been training local people in Kolar on the various aspects of radio programme production on the interests of the village community. In collaboration with the Shree Ramanna Maharishi Academy for the blind and air, voices has been working in Kanakapura, Ramudoddi and Arkere, to tap local talent pool in producing radio programmes on women's, education and environment issues. With ngo myrada in Chitradurga, they have produced 30-minute-long participatory programmes in Kannada called Namma Dhwani or Our Voices. voices identified and invited individuals and groups of village men, women, farmers, rural entrepreneurs, children and youth to participate in programming which focused on issues like women's health, income-generating opportunities, rural management, watershed management and education of the girl child.
Community radio was also popular in the now-devastated Bhuj. The Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, in association with the Ahmedabad-based Drishti Media Collective, has an inventive programme in Kutchi relayed from air's Bhuj station. Called Kunjal Panjo Kutchji (Sarus Crane of Our Kutch), it is anchored by a fictional crane, a migratory bird that is an integral part of the region's folklore. The bird speaks in a human voice, discusses problems and offers solutions. The first half of the show is a dramatic presentation of the problems of a fictional village called Ujjas represented by 11 characters played by the villagers themselves. The second half has a news capsule for which eight young villagers have been trained in news-gathering and news presentation. Such has been the popularity of the show that when the leadership of Ujjas' woman sarpanch, Rani, was under challenge, listeners wrote in that she be re-elected unopposed. The show is a resounding success: 70 per cent of radio listeners in the Kutch region, according to an iim Ahmedabad survey, tuned into it regularly. Just proves how potent and meaningful community radio can be.