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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/india-community-radio-stations-marginalized-groups/>
"When India first went into Covid-19 lockdown during the sweltering summer of
2020, millions of children in rural areas found themselves without access to
basic education. But deep in the drought-stricken district of Satara in the
central Indian state of Maharashtra, young kids huddled around the radio sets
in their homes for an hour every morning and evening. They were listening to
their own teachers on programs based on their school syllabi.
This public education effort was one of several community service initiatives
from Mann Deshi Tarang Vahini, a community radio station broadcasting in the
region since November 2008. Though the station started with the aim of sharing
the success stories of women entrepreneurs from its parent organization, the
NGO Mann Deshi Foundation, it has since assumed a wide range of roles.
Because it predates television and the internet and remains far more affordable
than any other medium, radio has traditionally been a primary and credible
source of news for millions of people in India. A 2018 Nielsen research report
found that radio was India’s second-most accessed medium, after television.
Mann Deshi represents a kind of radio that has been quietly flourishing — and
enriching locals’ lives — in various corners of the country: community radio.
While the government-owned All India Radio often aligns itself with the
political agenda of the ruling party and commercial FM radio stations focus on
entertainment and bottom lines, community radio stations bridge the information
gap between urban and rural audiences.
Often operated out of small rooms with basic infrastructure and a minimal,
multitasking staff, these stations transmit information both relevant and
important to their audiences in rural India."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
