Community Radio A Development Tool

- Monika Verma-

 

Community Radio network is growing due to its nature and potential. Government of India while recognizing the potential of community radio recently opened it to well established educational institutions recognized by central or state governments. Limited local reach low power transmission and programming content, which reflects the development and specific needs of community make it truly people’s radio. And people are not only listeners they are also creative producers of content. Both technology and content of community radio is participatory in nature, which make it powerful. Community radio is expected to focus on issues related to education, health, environment, agriculture rural and community development. Format and presentation reflect local flavours and fragrance.

 

In real sense it is a vibrant community broadcasting system to enhance pluralism and diversity. It makes not only listeners but also as active citizens and creative producers of media content. Power of Community Radio lies in its participatory nature as both its content and technology is people oriented. It is an interactive platform for accessing information and local planning.

 

Philosophically we can see two distinct models to Community Radio. One is service or community model - focused on what the station can do for the community. In this model localism is often prized, as Community Radio, as a third tier, can provide content focused on a more local or particular community than larger operations. The other model is of involvement and participation. Within the participatory model, the participation of community members in producing content is seen as a good in itself.

 

Deccan Development Society (Andhra Pradesh), VOICES (Karnataka) Alternative for India Development (Jharkhand) and Kucch Mahila Sangathan (Gujrat) are among the pioneers in Community Radio in India.

 

M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (Tamil Nadu) has been a strong advocate of Community Radio and the National Foundation for India (New Delhi) has been a backer of initiatives. At the international level UNESCO and UNDP have been notable in their support. Recently UNESCO-IPDC (International Programme for Development Communication) has approved $ 60,000 in contribution to the establishment of the first 10 Community Radio stations in India.

 

Roots of Community Radio In India : Roots of Community Radio can also be traced in India. Under British colonial rule, amateur broadcasting started early in three Indian cities Bombay, Calcutta and Madras soon after its appearance on the scene elsewhere in the world. During this time Community Radio appeared in different forms mainly decentralized, rural, local and merely experimental. Rural reconstruction commissioner Frederick Brayne in Lahore conducted one of these experiments in rural broadcasting in 1932.

 

Indian government permits three kinds of radio stations. One is Prasar Bharti's All India Radio (AIR), the operator of more than 200 stations (AM and FM) in the country. Two , the commercial FM radio stations that came into existence during 2000-2002 following the first phase of radio opening up to private broadcasters in 1999. Three, in mid 2005 eight university radio stations have been given permission to broadcast educational and non-commercial local programmes. Real evidence of Community Radio stations came about on 17th Feb. 2003 in Andhra Pradesh. A self-help group at Orvakal is using a low power FM Radio Transmitter commissioned by the AP state government. But it was seized and shut down by officials on the reason that central government does not have any policy for such broadcasting.

 

Many organizations and people have been advocating for the government to license Community Radio. Supreme court ruling on 9th Feb. 1995 in which government reminded that “ It is the duty of State governments that airwaves are utilized to advance the free speech and expression, right of the citizens which is served by ensuring plurality and diversity of views, opinions and ideas. These rulings energized or encouraged NGO,s and development media organizations that were already advocating for Community Radio license. In 1996 representatives of NGO,s educational institutes, media and All India Radio met in Bangalor in sept. 1996 to discuss Community Radio policy. In response to these developments the Gujrat government introduced the broadcasting bill in the Lok Sabha in May 1997. The bill sought to allow private broadcasters to operate in India but was silent about Community Radio itself.  In 2001, The Vajpayee government made a second attempt to bring reformed broadcast regulations. This time government introduced the communication convergence bill in Parliament. Many leading NGOs and development media organizations started lobbying directly with the ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make a policy to license Community Radio.

 

In dec. 2002 the Ministry of I & B allowed universities to broadcast non-commercial programmes at low power. Reach of this broadcast would not be more than five kilometer sufficient for many campuses. In real sense it was a university radio policy, but ministry called it “Community Radio”. While the university radio policy frustrated community Radio advocates around the country. May 2004 brings hopes, The ministry of I & B organized a workshop on Community Radio in collaboration with UNDP and UNESCO for national policy framework on Community Radio in India. Later in Dec. 2004, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came out with its recommendations. Community Radios are approved and started license distribution with some recommendations. On 16th Nov. 2006 government of India notified a new community Radio policy with modified recommendations.

 

License For Community Radio in India : License for Community Radio broadcasting in India is granted to well established and recognized educational institutions/organizations as universities, institutes of management, institutes of engineering and technology and residential schools. Government of India notified a new policy to Community Radio Broadcasting which permits NGOs and other civil society organizations to own and run Community Radio. About 6000 Community Radio licenses are offered by government. Any individual, political parties, criminals and banned organizations cannot apply for Community Radio license. The license allowed them to operate a 100-watt (ERP) radio station, which covers area of 10-kilometer radius approximately. Community Radio stations are expected to produce 50% local programmes as far as possible with local language and dialect. There is no ban on entertainment programmes but with more stress on development programmes. News programmes are not permitted or banned as also on commercial FM radio.

 

Technical Parameters in Frequency : License will be granted for FM transmitters for power of 50 Watts or less. License will be issued in the shared frequency band from 87.5 to 100 Mhz.  However, in the event of frequency not being available in this band the exclusive broadcast band of 104 to 108 Mhz may also be considered as in case of private FM broadcasters. The frequency band from 100 to 104 Mhz. earmarked exclusively for the use of AIR, Prasar Bharati will not be disturbed.

 

The license for the Community Radio services in India will be given for a period of three years and this will operate on non-commercial basis for the largest benefit of the community. License will not be transferable and an applicant will not be permitted more than one license. Therefore no license fee will be charged except the minimum spectrum usage fee as determined by the wireless planning co-ordination (WPC) for such purposes.

In the absence of broadcasting (as in the case of India) Community Radio can be used for narocasting. The programmes are played through cassette to an audience and feedback is directly received. The programmes made by the community can also be broadcast using existing spaces on AIR and local radio. As the programmes made by NGOs for OWSA (One World South Asia) in Delhi have been aired on FM Rainbow 102.6 programmes made by OWSA will also be aired in Shimla and Haryana.

 

Working Model of Global Community Radio : Role of community broadcasting in Australia, according to the community broadcasting association is to provide service to community as per their needs. 53% Community Radio in Australia serving, different communities interests including indigenous and ethnic people with print disability, young people, older people. With this, these stations have a strong commitment to local news and information. Around 25000 volunteers are involved in the Community Radio sector and 7 million Australians listen to Community Radio.

 

The CBAA (Community Broadcasting Association of Australia) estimates that sponsorship revenue make up 46% of the sectors income. Membership and subscription make up around 20% and is a well-established income generator; sale of airtime generates around 10% of the sector’s income. In this way Australian Community Radios are working on Business Model.

 

Nepal Community Radio are working on a co-operative model or local administration model. One Nepal radio is working on NGO model that is radio “Sagarmatha” owned and managed by NEFEJC (Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists). This station was started with the support of UNESCO and is also a source of inspiration to the Community Radio movement in South Asia. 60% of its funds come from donors and 10% from other sources.

Some of the United States Community Radio are also working on a co-operative model. But now they are trying to reduce their dependence on financial contributions from corporations in comparison with other public broadcasters. Most of the stations in United States are staffed and run by volunteers. Federal Communication Commission licenses United States Community Radio stations. Many Community Radio stations are licensed there as full power FM stations.

 

Now throughout the world and also in India network of Community Radio is growing day by day. There is no gender barriers also. Polomau (Jharkhand) and Leelawati are example for wosmen active participation in Community Radio. There is also no age bar in United Kingdom where three-fourth presenters on Community Radio are under the age of 16 years. Community Radio’s are today from village to schools and also to prison.  Prison Community Radio in Jamaica is opened for the reintegration of prisoners.

 

Community Radio can also become the ideal communication medium for local news and information, which are largely ignored by the mainstream media. Community Radio network is spreading not only on Indian map but also on world map due to its community centered nature. Now it is a need to study its working model not its nature and potential. Potential of Community Radio can best be judged on its working models, either it is a business model, cooperative model, NGO model or grassroot model. 

 

Monika Verma- Lecturer, Deptt. of Mass Communication, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Vikas Bhawan, Bhopal (M.P.)

 

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