Thanks for posting this Sajan.
Arti
Arti Jaiman Project Manager: TRF Radio | [email protected] | www.trfindia.org |
www.jaiman.org | www.pitara.com
--- On Mon, 15/3/10, sajan venniyoor <[email protected]> wrote:
From: sajan venniyoor <[email protected]>
Subject: [cr-india] "Villagers turn radio jockeys in Gurgaon"
To: "CR India" <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, 15 March, 2010, 7:37 PM
Villagers turn radio jockeys in Gurgaon15.03.2010,
IANS, http://sify.com/news/villagers-turn-radio-jockeys-in-gurgaon-news-national-kdpkuceacci.html
Sporting multi-function wireless head phones, their heads bobbing in tune to
the beats in front of studio mikes and confident fingers tapping the keys on
the console-- they are not the stylish urban radio jockeys but ordinary
villagers playing on a community radio.
At a time when the national capital region (NCR) is flooded with FM stations
playing the latest music, a Gurgaon-based NGO has started a radio station run
by villagers.
The only civil society-led community radio station in the NCR, Gurgaon Ki Awaaz
Samudayik Radio Station, broadcast on 107.8 MHz FM, is a platform for and by
the marginalised community groups in Gurgaon-- villagers and migrant workers.
'The station is supported by The Restoring Force (TRF), an NGO that works in
government schools in Gurgaon district, primarily in the area of infrastructure
enhancement,' said Arti Jaiman, project manager of the community radio.
It was launched Nov 19, 2009, after several months of training for its team of
raw village recruits, most of whom had never even worked on a computer before.
Broadcast in Hindi and Haryanvi, it is run by a team of people, the bulk of
whom come from these target communities within Gurgaon.
'When we approached the radio station, we clearly told them that we don't know
English and have no idea how to work on a computer. But, as we started working,
we learnt many things and gained confidence. We can now edit our programmes,'
said Naresh, a school dropout from Sarai Ailawardi village.
Gurgaon Ki Awaaz comes on air 24 hours a day and plays a wide range of
programmes on career, entrepreneurship, migration, women's empowerment, health,
folk culture, music, sports and community reportage by school-going children.
'I report on health issues and try to create awareness. Initially, I was
nervous but now I am comfortable. when I started, I covered only Bhurera
village but now I cover four to five villages,' said Sharmila, who works as a
reporter for the radio.
The radio station recently celebrated three months of successful operation. The
bulk of programming on Gurgaon Ki Awaaz is done on-site in government schools
in villages such as Garhi Harsaru, Sikanderpur, Sarai Alawardi and Dhankot.
'The radio is a wonderful medium to reach the community. By its very sound and
music, it is very evidently 'their' station. The station records and airs folk
music and folk ballads performed by local music groups and performers, music
for children (much of it recorded by students of government schools), and
debates and discussions very much like Chaupals, that bring together diverse
voices,' Jaiman said.
The radio station doesn't lag behind on the basic concept of an FM channel that
is music. When the listeners tune in, they invariably get to hear various forms
of music sung by local 'mandalis' or 'bhajans' by village women.
'So unique is this sound, so rooted to the land and collective community
memory, that there has been an instant connect with the station. Not one
listener asks for Hindi film music,' she said.
--Indo-Asian News service
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