New Community Media: A Case of Community Radio

Dr A.S.Charyulu

No man is an island……….

The community can be territorial or geographical - a township, village, district or island. It can also be a group of people with common interests, who are not necessarily living in one defined territory.

Community

New Community Media Technologies

Internet Technologies – Internet2

Web 2.0 Technologies

Open Source Software

New Community Media Technologies

Copyleft – Creative Commons

New Community Media Technologies

Right to Information Act

New Community Media Platforms• Blogs• Social Network Portals• RSS feeds• Podcasting• Open Repositories• Community of Practice• Community Radio• Participatory Video• Community T.V• Community Multimedia Centres

Podcast

Community Radio means radio broadcasting with the objective of serving the cause of the community in the service area by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their programmes.

Community Radio

A community radio station is one that is operated in the community, for the community, about the community and by the community.

Community Radio

It affords a unique advantage of receiving transmission through low cost, battery operated portable receiving sets.

Community Radio

Community radio can be managed or controlled by one group, by combined groups, or of people such as women, children, farmers, fisher folk, ethnic groups, or senior citizens.

Who Manage Community Radio

•It encourages participation

•It offers the opportunity to any member of the community to initiate communication and participate in program making, management and ownership of the station.

Characteristics of Community Radio

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

Characteristics of Community Radio

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

•It promotes and improves problem solving.

Characteristics of Community Radio

Principles of Community Radio

•Access

•Participation

•Self-management

•Community mandate

•Accountability

•Non-profit organizations having a proven record of at least three years of service to the local community

•State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), ICAR institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

•Well established educational institutions.

Who are eligible?

• License will be granted for FM transmitters for power of 50 Watts or less.

• The licensees shall furnish a bank guarantee for a sum of Rs.25,000/- at the time of Grant of Permission Agreement.

• CRS should be designed to serve a specific well defined Local community.

Rules for CR

• It should have an ownership and management structure that is reflective of the Community that the CRS seeks to serve.

• Programmes for broadcast should be relevant to the educational, developmental, social and cultural needs of the community.

• It must be a legal entity i.e. it should be registered under the Societies Act.

Rules for CR

Procedure

• The Universities/Deemed University or Government run educational institution will have a single window clearance by putting up cases before an Inter Ministerial Committee chaired by Secretary, I&B for approval.

• In case of all other applicants, Letters of Intent (LOI) will be issued only on receipt of clearance from Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence & HRD.

Basic Equipment Approximate cost (US$)

1 unit 20-40 watt transmitter (exciter) 1,500

1 unit 100-watt booster 1,000

1 set Antenna system/single dipole 400

1 unit 12-channel/audio mixer 500

1 unit Amplifier 300

2 units Tape deck @ 500 1,000

1 unit CD player @ 200 400

3 units Karaoke 300

2 units Microphones @ 100 300

3 units Portable tape recorders @ 150 300

1 roll Floor stand mic/boom @ 15 30

1 unit Microphone cable 30

2 pcs. KG 1500 D AVR 250

2 pcs. Headphones @ 30 60

XLR connectors (male/female) 20

Total cost $6,390

Equipment

Objective of the Community Radio• The basic objective of the Community

Radio broadcasting would be to serve the cause of the community in the service area of the licensee by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their programmes.

Focus of Community Radio

• The programmes on the community radio service will focus on issues relating to education, health, environment, agriculture rural and community development. The content must be confined to social, cultural and local issues and the format, subject, presentation and language must reflect and exude the local flavour and fragrance.

CR initiatives in India

• Alternative for India Development-AID project in Daltongunj (Jharkhand)

• Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan-KMVS project in Bhuj (Gujarat)

• VOICES project in Budhikote (Karnataka)

• Deccan Development Society-DDS project in Pastapur (Andhra Pradesh)

Studio at Anna FM @ 90.4, Anna University, Chennai [Madras] (Photo: courtesy of Andrea Borgnino)

Status of CR in India

• Letter of Intent Holders http://mib.nic.in/CRS/crsloi090508.htm

• List of institutions / organisations applied for grant of permission to set up community radio stationshttp://mib.nic.in/CRS/WEBSTATUS220607.pdf

• 4000 community radio stations will have sprung up in India by 2008 under the new enabling community radio policy announced by the Government

• Rules http://mib.nic.in/CRS/FAQ.htm

• CRS packages http://mib.nic.in/CRS/FAQ.htm

CR in Agricultural Institutions

Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) is eligible.

•38 State Agriculture Universities

•39 Central Research Institutes

•18 National Research Centers

•553 Krishi Vigyan Kendras

KVK Baramati started FM community radio dedicated to agriculture on 29 March, 2005.

CR in Agricultural Institutions

CRS Services:•Market information•Day-today field operation of important crops and major enterprises•Information on daily weather•Daily serial reading of a book on agriculture•Answering farmers questions by subject-matter specialists

CRS Services……

•Farmers’ school on radio, i.e. a serial on a crop or enterprise•Disease forecasting•Interviewing a progressive farmer•Slot for subject matter specialist of State Agricultural University or other research institute

CR in Agricultural Institutions

In February 2008………….

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bharsar, Pauri, Uttarakhand

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gwaldham.Chamoli, Uttarakhand

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chiniyalisaur, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jyolikot, Distt-Nainital, Uttarakhand

6. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lohaghat. P.O.Galchoura, Distt-Champawat, Uttarakhand

CR in Agricultural Institutions

7. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jakhdhar, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand8. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand9. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Harbatpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand10. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhanausi, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 11. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranikhet, Almora, Uttarakhand12. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reddipalli, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh13. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, Haryana14. Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar-Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

CR in Agricultural Institutions

Where you know more on CR

Thanks