Echo Vinod's point. I met Aruna di and Nikhil by chance today on another
issue. I thanked her on behalf of all - and she mentioned that her letter had
included attachments- letters, petitions etc from many of us in the sector
(which Stalin had also pointed out in an earlier email). It is besides the
point what a newspaper may choose to summarize and highlight. This is a time
when we need to come together and collectively see how we can work together to
protect democratic spaces in the media. So, before we begin to celebrate, as
Stalin and Sajan pointed out, let's work together to waive off the spectrum fee
completely.
Best
Ashish
--- On Sun, 7/8/12, Vinod Pavarala <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Vinod Pavarala <[email protected]>
Subject: [cr-india] Spectrum fee decision
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Sunday, July 8, 2012, 8:39 PM
Congratulations to everyone in the CR movement on the reported announcement by
Mr. Kapil Sibal about scrapping spectrum fee for community radio in India. If
it's followed up by appropriate bureaucratic procedures, this is indeed a
remarkable achievement for grassroots practitioners, CR advocates and
intellectuals who worked together with the media. While we are very grateful
for Aruna-di's intervention, I am sure all the collective pressure had its role
to play. It is a sign of maturity of the CR movement in the country. This is
not the time for recriminations and struggles over who deserves more or less
credit. Let us resolve to be alert and continue to fight for the retention of
democratic spaces on the broadcast spectrum.
Best,
Vinod
UNESCO Chair on Community Media
University of Hyderabad
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.in
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.in
