Dear Friends,
In the discussion on the points raised by Dr.Sreedhar, there were references
to why Gyanvani did not keep up its promise of allowing NGOs to take their
own share of 40% of broadcast time.
It was when Dr.Sreedhar was the Director of Gyanvani, there was a round
table in New Delhi, where this question of Gyanvani trying to overshadow the
efforts of CR movement and 'snatching' the opportunity that is meant for CRs
came up. I was a part of the round table, so I remember this. When we had a
lot of fight with him, Dr. Sreedhar had facilitated the discussions in such
a way that, till the CR became a reality we, the representatives of NGOs or
NGOs themselves, could use the facility that is offered by Gyanvani. It was
in that meeting it was agreed upon that Gyanvani will offer 40% of its
broadcasting time in all its proposed 41 stations, to be utilized by
development sector's voluntary organizations. He even mooted an idea of a
Radio Collective to be formed around each Gyanvani Station, in which the
NGOs will have full representation and them take the responsibility of
organizing NGOs into utilizing the broadcasting time, and also enable them
to make programs.
This did not some how worked out, as the friends in the field were
hectically engaged in the CR movement and perhaps did not see much point in
this. It was also convenient for Gyanvani to remain silent about this.
I would like to quote IT for Change's efforts in getting through, weekly
broadcast called Kelu Sakhi. Almost 2 year old program made with full
participation of dalit, illiterate rural women belonging to three talukas,
with the technical facilitation by IT for Change personnel. Kindly note that
this program is being broadcast from Gyanvani, Mysore. The Karanataka State
Open University, under which Gyanvani Mysore operates, broadcasts this under
women's empowerment title and also says that this program is a part of their
objectives of under open university. I was instrumental in convincing the
then VC of KSOU, Dr.Sudha Rao, that ITfC's KeluSakhi deserves free slot.
(Mr.Parminder knows this all, it is his program). Now that gates are open
for the first time, I am trying make more in roads.
Recently, I held a workshop for KSOU, which has resulted into the present
VC, Dr.Vivek Rai, promising to allot one hour slot every day for the NGOs to
utilize for their own development broadcast. He has also agreed to help us
conducting workshops/training programs to enable willing NGOs to make radio
programs on their own.
Second Experience: Some time back IGNOU had conducted a consultation of
Gyanvani Station Managers at Delhi. Dr. Sreedhar had made an exception and
had invited me to this meeting. I had an opportunity to quote the example of
Kelu Sakhi of ITfC at Mysore and to remind the gathering that NGOs still
have a claim of 40% of broadcast time on all the Gyanvani Stations. But it
was not drawing much attention and interest from the participants there; and
I was wondering why!
When I had a personal interaction with the station managers of various
Gyanvani stations in the evening, they expressed their inability to
encourage NGOs to broadcast from their station due to the lack of facilities
and sufficient staff in their studios. They thought that they have to
produce the programs themselves inviting the NGOs to participate. Given the
present facilities this was obviously impossible.
When I gave the example of Kelu Sakhi where an NGO takes the full
responsibility of producing the program and promptly handing over the
broadcast quality CD, all most every one of them readily said, "Oh, in such
case we have no problem at all" . We should be happy to broadcast
development programs instead of some music or the other." Then the question
remains, who is to the bell the cat? Who is to organize the NGO who are
willing to share the timing on Gyanvani; and who is to enable them to make
programs on their own utilizing their own and hired facilities?
I am going ahead doing this my own small and humble way in Mysore. I hope,
we would see some more NGO in Mysore/Mandya/Chamaraja Nagar Districts
happily utilizing the Gyanvani channel for their own benefit, FREE of COST.
These are going to be CR Programs (Not CRs, of course), without the hitch of
getting the CR licenses, taking the huge burden of erecting the transmitter
and attendant facilities and staff to to run the facility etc. Many NGOs are
not equipped for this.
Sorry for a long posting; I know I have not made much point. But Still..!
M.Abdul Rehman Pasha,
'Nammane'
Multimedia
18/37-3, 12th D Main,
Shivanagara, Bangalore-560 010
Ph: (080) 2338 9888
Mob: 98452 99621
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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