I wonder how many more examples of failed top-down schemes this country needs?
It is even more galling when we have so many fine exemplars of community media
created under the most onerous and unfriendly conditions imaginable (well, no,
there was outright ban earlier, so maybe scope for a dash of hope isn't the
worst).
I feel sorry that Mr Nitish Kumar shows himself to be as clueless as his
counterparts across the country (especially the westernmost part). At least in
the popular media, he has been painted as a chap who has a head on his
shoulders.
Vickram
http://communicall.wordpress.com
http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
>________________________________
> From: Frederick FN Noronha फ्रेड्रिक नोरोन्या *فريدريك نورونيا
> <[email protected]>
>To: cr-india <[email protected]>
>Sent: Monday, 19 March 2012, 23:00
>Subject: [cr-india] 'Radios are useless when we have nothing to eat'
>
>
>http://twocircles.net/2012mar18/radios_are_useless_when_we_have_nothing_eat.html
>
>'Radios are useless when we have nothing to eat'
>Submitted by admin4 on 18 March 2012 - 1:51pm
>
>India News
>
>By Imran Khan, IANS,
>
>Patna : What do we do with a radio when we have nothing to eat? This
>is the refrain of many of the poor Mahadalits in Bihar who are selling
>off free radios given by the state government to buy meat and country
>liquor.
>
>More than 1,500 Mahadalits, the poorest of the poor in Bihar, in
>Dhanarua block in Patna district are reported to have sold their
>radios for just Rs.150 to Rs.200 in the last few days.
>
>"What will we do with a radio when we have nothing to eat? Where is
>the money for its battery? That is why we have sold the radios,"
>Brahamdeo Manjhi of Anjani village, a beneficiary of the Mahadalit
>radio scheme, told IANS.
>
>He said the money he got was used for a small party with his friends.
>"We enjoyed country (locally brewed) liquor," he said.
>
>Radios were distributed to educate the Mahadalits about the importance
>of literacy, sanitation and kicking bad habits like consuming alcohol
>and tobacco.
>
>Another beneficiary of the Mahadalit radio scheme, Doman Manjhi, said
>the radio will not benefit Mahadalits. "We are fighting for survival.
>Songs and news sound bad when we have empty stomachs," he said.
>
>Doman admitted that he along with dozens have already sold radios
>provided by the government. "After I sold my radio, I purchased
>country liquor and chicken for dinner," he said.
>
>Dhanarua Block welfare officer Sadhna Kumari said there was
>information that Mahadalits in some villages had sold their radios.
>"What can we do? We cannot check it," she said.
>
>According to block officials, till date, 5,552 radios have been
>distributed and 663 are yet to be distributed among Mahadalits.
>
>Last month, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the Mahadalit radio
>scheme under the Bihar Mahadalit Vikas mission. The government has
>decided to provide radios to about 2.2 million Mahadalit familes.
>
>As per the 2011 Census, Dalits constitute nearly 15 percent of Bihar's
>104 million population. A total of 21 of the 22 Dalit sub-castes have
>been identified as Mahadalits. They include the Musahar, Bhuiyan, Dom,
>Chamar and Nat communities.
>
>In 2009, the state government had decided to directly hand over Rs.400
>to each family to purchase radios.
>
>However, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said it was decided not to give
>the money as officials of the SC/ST welfare department and the
>Mahadalit Vikas Mission apprehended that the money might be misused.
>
>Bihar was the first state in the country to constitute a Mahadalit
>Commission. It was decided that the commission would study the status
>of the neglected sub-castes among Dalits and suggest ways to uplift
>them.
>
>(Imran Khan can be contacted at [email protected])
>
>
>
>Thanks to ZestCast
>Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
>www.crforum.in
>
>
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