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The Role of Community Radio in Development -History and Case Studies

With the emergence of development communication in mass media studies,


community radio was largely seen as a medium for development programmes. Many
countries too look at community radios as carriers of development messages. Many
authors would suggest that today development happens when communities are
empowered. And hence, it is important to empower communities first, before trying
to bring about development. In a study, it has been noted that just listening to their
own voice was an empowering experience, as they realize that this, truly, can be their
voice and help them get a better deal from government and other castes. What the
above studies reveal is that community radio as a true participatory medium in true
sense of the term would help in giving voice to the voiceless. This process can be highly
democratic helping in the larger goal of empowerment. In fact, democracies can be
made more vibrant if this medium is promoted extensively.
What is Community Radio?
Community radio broadcasting is a non-profit service that is owned and managed by a
particular community, usually through a NGO / NPO / trust / foundation / or
association. Its aim is to serve and benefit that community. Its membership,
management, operation and programming are primarily controlled by members of the
community at large. It is, in effect, a form of public-service broadcasting, but it serves
a community rather than the whole nation. Moreover, it relies and must rely mainly on
the resources of the community. Its programming should be based on community
access and participation and should reflect the special interests and needs of the
listenership it is licensed to serve.”
What is a Community?
A community is considered to be a group of people who share common characteristics
and/or interests. The commonality of interests may be based on:
- The sharing of a single geographical location, that is to say those living in a specific
town, village, or neighborhood;
- The sharing of economic and social life through trade, marketing, exchange of goods
and services.

Historical Glimpses:
Community Radio as a democratic communication medium played a significant role in
the life of the people across the world since 1940s. The history of community radio

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goes back to 1947 when two radio stations came into being in Latin America. The first
one was the ‘Miners’ Radio in Bolivia and the second one was ‘Radio Sutatenza’ in
Columbia. The poverty and injustice were the reasons for those first experiences. Since
then, community radios have served as viable platforms for the common folk to
participate in the democratic process by expressing their views and opinions. In that
direction, in South Africa community radios are considered to have made a big impact
in the lives of women who now feel empowered to play an active role in democratic
process.
In Indonesia, community radios have been successful in preserving and empowering
local cultures. In Venezuela, community radios played a crucial role by informing
people of the attempts to overthrow the democratically elected government in 2002.
Thailand’s vibrant community radios had allowed the migrant population to voice their
aspirations fearlessly. However, following the military coup in 2006, many such radio
stations in Thailand were silenced. In India’s neighborhood Nepal, Radio Lumbini has
been active in contributing to the democratic process. In Sri Lanka the government
had even given license to the erstwhile LTTE to start a radio station called Voice of
Tigers. However, the station was shut down during the volatile period in 2009.

Community Radio in India


One can easily understand the importance of community radio in India. It has proved
to be the cheapest and the strongest medium for fulfilling the communication gap
between the community and the Government. It can effectively mobilize the
community to undertake several developmental programs and projects at grass-root
level and can help bring all the desirable changes in the society. It also proves to be
vital tool in strengthening the right to freedom of speech and expression.
In India, the campaign to legitimise community radio began quite late i.e., in mid
1990s, soon after the Supreme Court of India ruled in its judgment of February 1995
that "airwaves are public property and should be utilized for advancing public good".
This judgement is based on a legal fight between Union Government of India and
Bengal Cricket Association. Accordingly, the government started issuing licenses to
commercial FM operators from 1999.
However, it took another three years for the state to bring out a policy on community
radios. The first policy that came in 2002 allowed only the well-established educational
institutions to set up community radios which were in fact campus radios. Such a
discriminatory policy was opposed by community radio activists who demanded a
‘more inclusive and cohesive policy’. Anna FM is India's first campus 'community'
radio, launched on 1st February 2004, which is run by Education and Multimedia

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Research Centre (EMRC), and all programmes are produced by the students of Media
Sciences at Anna University.
Role of UNESCO:
UNESCO played its key role in pushing the idea of Community Radio in India. With the
help of UNESCO, The Bangalore-based communication campaign group, “VOICES”
(Namma Dwani) took initiative in Sep 1996 to study how CR could be relevant to India,
and to deliberate on policies appropriate for such an action. They simply worked with
a cable TV setup to narrowcast their programmes.
Also the Deccan Development Society Community Media initiative “Sangham Radio”
started around 1997 with the financial help of UNESCO. Initially, UNESCO, Malaysia,
funneled out Rs 28 lakh to establish the radio station. These funds were utilized for
buying the land for and construction of the station. The transmitter also came in as a
donation from UNESCO. But they had to wait until 2008 to get legal permission from
Govt. of India to use the transmitter.
UNESCO’s IPDC had funded around 60,000 USD to set up first 10 Community Radio
stations in India. UNESCO Sponsored a workshop in July, 2000 in Hyderabad. Deccan
Development Society, an NGO organized a workshop in Hyderabad sponsored by
UNESCO in 2000 urged the government to allocate space for community radio. It called
a resolution for “Pastapur Initiative on CR”. By early 2003, the government of India
released the first set of CR guidelines but restricted eligibility to educational
institutions.
Another workshop in 2004 by I & B, UNDP and UNESCO to enable framework for CR.
Also its aim is to support CR stations in tribal areas in cooperation with areas like
Alternative India Development (AID)
Many Requests were also made for granting of licenses to NGOs and other non-profit
groups to run CR stations. Subsequently, in 2007, UNESCO made available a portable
production and transmission “briefcase radio station” kit to do experimental
broadcasts of programs for a hands-on learning experience.
Box measuring around 55 X 50 cms contains mixer, CD / Cassette player, a 30W FM
transmitter, antenna, and a laptop with multimedia programming and access services.
The kit can be fit in an auto rickshaw that can be taken anywhere and radio
broadcasting can be done.
Finally, the sustained struggle by the community radio activists made the government
bring about another policy in 2006 to allow NGOs, agricultural research centres, and
registered societies to seek community radio licenses. As of May 2018, 217 community
radios were in operation though the government in 2007 had promised to start 400
community radios ‘in a few years’.
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Essential Features of Community Radio:
The audience as Protagonists: While community radio is a form of public-service
broadcasting, it has an approach that is different from conventional broad- casting. Its
specific focus is to make its audience the main protagonists, by their involvement in
all aspects of its management and programme production, and by providing them with
programming that will help them in the development and social advancement of their
community.
A Special Slant on News, Entertainment and Education: Unlike mainstream media,
News is not an isolated story or event alone. Mostly news is confined to the
Community, and the approach of coverage is solution centric that looks for change and
development in the community. Entertainment is provided in the form of collective
cultural expression rather than focusing on commercial elements or the single
performers. Also, Education is more like sharing of experiences and learning from
others rather than an expert teaching or lecturing.
Public Access and Participation: Access implies the availability of broadcasting
services to all citizens; participation implies that the public is actively involved in
planning and management, and also provides producers and performers. In concrete
terms, for community radio these concepts mean that:
• A community radio’s broadcast pattern reaches all members of the community it
aims to serve;
• The community participates in formulating plans and policies for the radio service
and in defining its objectives, its principles of management, and its programming;
• The community participates in decisions concerning programme content, duration
and schedules. People select the types of programmes they want, rather than
having them prescribed by the producers;
• The community is free to comment and criticize;
• There is continuous interaction between producers and receivers of messages.
Editorial Independence and Credibility: The editorial policies and programming of the
community radios are generally free from the interference of central and state
governments, political parties, religious groups. This approach enhances the
credibility. However, the overall framework and guidelines are decided by the Ministry
of I & B in India that helps in monitoring the functionalities of Community Radio.
Representation of Different Groups and Interests in Community: Communities are
inevitably made up of different groups and interests. Community radio broadcasts
programmes that cater to these and also encourages them to express themselves on
air.

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Inclusion of Minority and Marginalized Groups: Community radio includes minority
and marginalized groups on equal terms, rather than giving them an occasional voice.
Its programming ensures a wide diversity of voices and views from marginalized
groups, such as women and youth, and it promotes and protects the interests, culture,
and linguistic diversity of ethnic minorities in the community.
Reflect and Promote Local Identity, Character and Culture: Community radio provides
programming that is particular to its community’s identity and character. Thus, it relies
principally on local content.
It also focuses on local culture. Culture is what a community says to itself, and what it
says to others. It is how the people, the individual members of a community, express
their dreams and hopes, and how they talk about their past and their future.
Community culture is also, of course, artistic expression through local music, dance,
poetry, theatre, storytelling, and so on, and these are featured strongly by most
community radios. Local performers are encouraged to go on air, uninhibited by
considerations of the ‘professional standards’ they may have acquired from
mainstream media. The value of content and ‘localness’ is more important than the
formal quality and ‘professionalism’.
Provide a Diversity of Programmes and Content: Community radio provides a
diversity of programmes in a variety of formats and styles. For example, roundtable
discussions, reportage, interviews, talks, call-in programmes, live broadcasts of
meetings in the community, etc. Audience preferences are taken into account in
deciding what formats are most suitable.
Content is mainly determined by the lifestyles and livelihood of the community and by
the problems it faces. In rural areas, themes such as health, sanitation, farming,
fishing, environment, credit, marketing of produce, small-scale enterprises, etc.
usually feature prominently, but always set in the context of the community’s actual
situation.
Encourages open dialogue in a democratic process: It is a function of community
radio to provide an independent platform for interactive discussion about matters and
decisions of importance to its community. This is in keeping with the decentralization
processes now being implemented in many countries, a purpose of which is to bring
democratic decision-making closer to the people concerned.
Promotes Development and Social Change: People in poor communities tend to be
fatalistic about their situation. They will all have individual perceptions, but
development cannot take place on the basis of these. What is needed is a collective
perception of the local reality and of the options for improving it. This can only be
achieved through internal discussions enabled by the community Radios.

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Who can Initiate a Community Radio in India?
Ownership: As per the policy guidelines of Ministry of Information and Broadcast,
India, any civil society and voluntary organisations, State Agriculture Universities
(SAUs), ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Educational institutions, other
Registered Societies, Autonomous Bodies and Public Trusts registered under Societies
Act or any other such act relevant for the purpose are eligible. It must be a Legal Entity
i.e. it should be registered under the registration of Societies Act or any other such act
relevant to the purpose. Registration at the time of application should at least be
three years old.
On the whole:-
• The organization should be explicitly constituted as a ‘non-profit’.
• The CRS to be operated by it should be designed to serve a specific well-defined
local community.
• It should have an ownership and management structure that is reflective of the
community.
• Programmes for broadcast should be relevant to the educational,
developmental, social and cultural needs of the community.
Who are not eligible....
Individuals; Political Parties and their affiliate organizations (including students,
women’s, trade unions and such other wings affiliated to these parties); Organizations
operating with a motive to earn profit; Organizations expressly banned by the Union
and State Governments cannot own the community radio.
Equipment Required for CR
• The Local or CR station has a limited coverage radius of about 20 to 30 kms.
• A transmitter having maximum Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 100 W to
generate signals to be broadcast.
• An antenna with a minimum of 15 meters of height and not more than 30
meters, to radiate the signal.
• Lightning conductor to be fixed on top of antenna, with earthing.
• The studio equipment to produce the programmes like Tape recorders, CD
players, Control Console / Mixer.
• Equipment for field recording like remote microphone mixer that runs on
batteries.

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Funding / Operational Costs – Policies: A community radio service is set up and run as
a non-profit organization. It relies on financial support from a diversity of sources,
which may include donations, grants, membership fees, sponsorship or advertising. A
combination of these is the most desirable in order to ensure independence. Many
community radios also organize fund-raising events among their audience. The overall
aim is always to reach a state of financial self-sufficiency.
• An initial investment of Rs.2, 50,000 to Rs. 3,00,000.
• An additional running cost of Rs. 20, 000 per month.
• Eligible to get funds from multilateral agencies as explained above.
• To seek foreign funds, applicants need to obtain FCRA Clearance under Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act, 1976.
• Limited advertising and announcement, restricted to 5 (Five) minutes per hour
of broadcast.
• However, sponsored programs are not permitted unless meet the demands.
• The Panchayati Raj system is an effective tool for governance and hence can be
used to pump in money for setting up community radio stations.
• The Panchayat Raj system can be utilized to look in to the governance and
management activities of CR

Content Regulation and Monitoring:


• The programmes should be of immediate relevance to the community and
reflect the special interests and needs of the local community.
• At least 50% of content shall be generated with the participation of the local
community.
• Programmes should preferably be in the local language and dialect(s).
• The Permission Holder shall have to adhere to the provisions of the Programme
and Advertising Code as prescribed for All India Radio.
• The Permission Holder shall preserve all programmes broadcast by the CRS for
three months from the date of broadcast.
• The Permission Holder shall not broadcast any programmes, which relate to
news and current affairs and are otherwise political in nature.
• The Permission Holder shall ensure that nothing is included in the programmes
broadcast which:
a. Offends against good taste or decency;
b. Contains criticism of friendly countries;
c. Contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words
contemptuous of religious groups or which either promote or result in
promoting communal discontent or disharmony;

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d. Contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and half truths
statements;
e. Is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against
maintenance of law and order or which promote-anti-national attitudes;
f. Contains anything amounting to contempt of court or anything affecting the
integrity of the Nation

Challenges that hinder the initiation of Community Radio:


Currently, there are a number of points of dissatisfaction amongst the CR community.
• Only non-profits more than 3 years old can apply for a CR license. Although this
clause is present to help ensure accountability, it is restrictive for new organizations
that want to venture into community radio in a dedicated manner. The older non-
profits that are applying for licenses have been working in different streams such as
micro-finance, lowcost housing, health, etc, and tend to look upon CR as an outreach
channel for their existing programs. However, the vision and mission of CR is
substantially broader and a niche domain in itself.
• The license process can take well over a year. It goes through the approvals of almost
five different ministries, and if the application is stuck at any point, then there are
hardly any avenues to find out. Updates are rarely available on the government
websites. The entire process is also very inconvenient for the applicant organizations
because they are often asked to supply more details within sudden deadlines, or
required to appear in person in New Delhi without any warning.
One of the most significant tasks during the application process is also a community
survey that is supposed to be filled out by over 1000 respondents. Although surveys
are definitely valuable to assess the information needs of the communities, the
specific survey mandated by the government is available only in English, and contains
a whole host of amusing questions that are completely irrelevant to community radio.
Many people behind the CR movement strongly feel that a one-fits-all survey is not
suitable in the diverse Indian context, and applicants should be allowed to design their
own surveys based upon certain specific guidelines laid down by the government.
Fortunately, though, the government secretaries are open to suggestions, and the
process will smoothen out over time.
• The FM transmitter equipment for the community radio station can be sold by only
limited authorized vendors.

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For Case Studies, follow PPT and additional material uploaded in Google Classroom:
• The Sangham Radio in Pastapur village, Medak district, AndhraPradesh State
owned by Deccan Development Society was launched on October 15, 2008 (on
World’s Rural Women’s Day).
• Namma Dhwani (Our Voices) of Karnataka is India’s First cable CR station,
launched as a partnership effort of Budikote Community and with funding of
UNESCO.
• ManndeshiTarang, from Maharastra was established on 16 December 2008 by
Mann Vikas Samajik Sanstha, an NGO working for the empowerment of rural
and marginalized women.
• “Radio Namaskar,” was launched in Orissa on 11 July 2010 by Young India, a
civil society organization formed by some National Youth Awardees, Indira
Gandhi NSS Awardees, and Ex-NSS volunteers.
• UJAS Radio by Kutch MahilaVikas Sangathan-KMVS project in Bhuj (Gujarat).
• ‘Waqt Ki Awaaz’ in Bairy Dariyao village in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar
Pradesh (UP)
• Voice of Azamgarh in Lucknow- the Alternative for India Development-AID
project in Daltongunj (Jharkhand)

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