Stage Buzz:Community Radio

The community radio scene in India has been a bit of a joke. Institutional/ Campus radio ,NGO’s buying time on AIR for programs cannot be accepted as community radio . The concept of ‘community radio’ envisages that the community owns , operates and serves the community . The community is paramount in the system design .Campus radio may take the microphone to the slum nearby the campus and air the voices of the community and put out ‘do good’ programs for but that cannot accepted as community radio and is the traditionally treated as programs for the community. Some NGO’s have also worked with the communities and prepared programs with their involvement for broadcast over AIR.

Deccan Development Society, ( DDS) works with seventy- five villages in Medak District , l00 kilometers away from Hyderabad . The villagers have gone beyond subsistence farming , campaigning for food security, ecological farming practices based on peoples knowledge and re- energising the dry land areas with indigenous crops . Over the years the success of the community in maintaining biodiversity , seed sovereignty and alternative to PDS system has been given voice and the confidence in the indigenous knowledge of the women farmers . In addition ,the work on community based health system building on peoples knowledge and locally available herbal medicines are being documented . The work encompasses relevant education for rural farm children and strengthening governance by the people through participatory techniques . DDS has vigorously campaigned against Bt cotton and GMS crops .The villagers have created the Community Media Trust and own and operate a radio and television production house . Almost eight years ago UNESCO had approved a transmitter for DDS , but licensing was not given by the Ministry , so the women recorded programs and circulated the programs on tape to the villagers . The villagers gathered at night in the lamplight to discuss the programs and share their concerns and record their views …the topics ranged from subsistence farming , care of cows and buffaloes , nurseries for tree saplings ,school education and poverty alleviation and health programs The main thrust of the programs was the survival of the community as well as documentation of its rich cultural heritage and knowledge . The sanghams were active and alive as the programs were their empowerment and networked their knowledge .

The DDS community radio station in Manchnoor truly reflects the democratization of media and Justice Sawant’s historic judgment that the ‘airwaves belong to the people’ The Sangham radio will be a unique experience and will be an area of study as the community grows with their programs on issues relevant to their lives with farmers juries and social audits to live a life with dignity.