INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY RADIO
- Community radio is a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting, which is popular and relevant to a local, specific audience but is often overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcasters.
- Community radio are generally non-profit and provide a mechanism to became creators and contributors of media for the community member.
- Community radio plays an essential role in making the masses aware about their basic rights and duties.
- Community radio also acts as an intermediary between the Government and the local masses.
- Community radio is one of the important instruments in strengthening the ‘Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression’ as it not only solve day-to-day life problems which a common man faces but also provides a strong platform from where they can freely disseminate their ideas with other community members.
COMMUNITY RADIO IN INDIA
- After the landmark judgment of Supreme Court of India in February 1995 that ‘airwaves are public property’, the campaign to legitimise community radio began in the mid-1990s.
- Until 2006, only educational institutions were allowed to set up campus radio stations having a transmission range of 10-15 km.
- Community Radio Guidelines on 16 November 2006 included non-profit agencies, agricultural research institutes, and schools, to set up community radio stations that would involve local communities in the
content production process. - As at 15 February 2014, total 163 community radio stations were operational in India in which 94 were education related, 58 were NGOs and 11 were dedicated to agriculture development and education related.
“Sangham Radio – 90.4 MHZ”
- Launch Date: 15-10-2008
- Broadcast Timings: 19:00 – 21:00
- Languages: Telugu
- Programme Bank: 513 Hours
- It was founded on the principle that media has always treated rural people, especially women from the marginalised sections as consumers, and not its producers. Media also fails to address the issues specifically related to them
- As many as 2,500 women are involved in contributing to the programmes of Sangham Radio. At least ten women come daily from different villages to discuss, debate, sing, tell stories, take part in plays and to participate in recordings etc. Programs includes; our farming, our crops; our language and its unique nuances; our folk culture; Dialogue of in-laws; Our food etc.