Our NGO, TRF in Gurgaon, is just short of signing the GOPA. Our survey was done
with 500 respondent before the ministry put forward this 1000-respondent survey
to be done to suit DST. Does this mean, that we cannot sign the GOPA till we do
a fresh survey according to the DST questionnaire with 1000 respondents?
This is a very unfair request to put on NGOs -- many of whom may not even be
interested in opting for the Science for Women program.
Arti
Arti Jaiman Project Manager: TRF Radio | [email protected] | www.trfindia.org |
www.jaiman.org | www.pitara.com
--- On Sun, 25/1/09, Vickram Crishna <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Vickram Crishna <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [cr-india] "Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community
Initiative"
To: "CR India" <[email protected]>
Date: Sunday, 25 January, 2009, 11:42 AM
As usual, an intervention meant to assist filter out the ungodly (figuratively)
is being used to stamp out a concept at the roots. It is easy to suggest that
the two licensed stations are showcases of their kind, which simply avoids
pointing to the fact that every station - were there only 4,000! not just two -
would be showcases of their kind, for every station will be unique.
It is possibly this central fact that most rankles the worthies at the ministry
of disinformation and leastcasting. Decades of trying to fit all thought into
little boxes do not make for a situation of comfort, when faced with reality.
It is very tragic that government has absolutely no mechanism for indicting
this kind of thinking, one that is insanely and suicidally alienating the vast
majority of the
country. It is nearly a decade since the publication of the seminal study on
satellite broadcasting in South Asia, yet its lessons seem not to have crept
into what passes for thought at the ministry level.
Let me clarify one thing: there is no doubt at all that there are many good
people, hardworking and dedicated, in government. But there is no sense of
cohesion in promoting a common cause: the good of the country itself, and its
people. As long as this status quo is maintained, government will be
increasingly isolated from the people it is meant to serve.
Vickram
http://communicall.wordpress.com
http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
From: sajan venniyoor
<[email protected]>
To: CR India <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, 25 January, 2009 10:52:04
Subject: [cr-india] "Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community Initiative"
Low Frequency - Network Error in a Community Initiative
Anuradha Raman, Outlook India, 2 Feb 2009
Do the health problems peculiar to women or their superstitions have anything
to do with obtaining licences to operate community radio services? The Union
ministry of information & broadcasting seems to think so: its latest guidelines
make it mandatory for voluntary groups applying for the licence to conduct a
six-page survey on women's health by interviewing 1,000 respondents. The
questionnaire has been conceptualised by the department of science & technology
and is meant for developing a radio programme, 'Science for Women'.
No doubt, gender-sensitive surveys are useful sources of information, but the
way the I&B ministry is forcing the task on licence applicants is hindering
their primary effort. Many of them find the mandatory survey clause unfair. For
starters, they have to spend resources on conducting the survey when there is
no guarantee that they will finally be given a licence. Says Abhjit
Chakraborty, who wants to start a community radio in Purulia, West Bengal, "I
have been directed by the ministry to interview at least 1,000 respondents. I
need to know how much time the ministry is going to give me to conduct the
interviews." There is no clarity on this in the ministry. In fact, those who
furnished the broad results of the survey were asked to give the detailed
responses of respondents.
Among the questions the respondents are to answer in the survey are ones that
question them on the prevalence in their community of superstitions such as
papaya being taboo for pregnant women, menstruation being a time of
uncleanliness, eclipses being bad for the health of unborn children and
pregnant women. The logic behind radio licence applicants being asked to
conduct the survey is not explained. Other questions are on adolescent health,
pregnancy, childcare and so forth.
So far only two community radio stations are operational, one in Orchha, Madhya
Pradesh, and the other in Medak, Andhra Pradesh. Another five licences have
been cleared, but the target of 4,000 by 2008 has gone unmet and looks unlikely
to be met even this year-end. And nothing has been done to expedite the process
of awarding a licence, which can take a year or more. A committee of officials
first question the applicant on his motives for starting a station. The
ministry then forwards the application to the ministries of defence and home
for clearance following which the telecom ministry finally allots a frequency.
While those hoping to start community radio were looking forward to airing
debates on current issues, the ministry remains paranoid about allowing such
discussions. In fact, it has taken nearly five years to announce a policy for
community radio and fine-tune the guidelines. It will perhaps take another five
for civil society to engage with the true spirit of community broadcasting.
Meanwhile, officials say it won't come as a surprise if future applicants start
fudging the survey results as a quick way to obtain a licence. One wonders
whether the ministry has the wherewithal to keep tabs on that.Outlook's
questionnaire on the rationale of the survey sent to ministry officials did not
elicit a response. Perhaps they are in the 'Don't know/Can't say' mode.
What's Community Radio?
It means broadcasting for serving the community.
NGOs, well-established institutions can apply for a five-year licence.
There are 114 applications with the I&B ministry. Only seven have been cleared
so far.
The cost of setting up a radio station: Rs 6 lakh to Rs 27 lakh.
***http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20090202&fname=Community+Radio+(F)&sid=1
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