*"Community radios gaining in popularity"* Asha P. Nair, The New Indian Express, 10 Aug 2009 http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Community+radios+gaining+in+popularity&artid=QKcIWFRBnjQ= THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Radio waves that had created ripples in the lives of fishermen in coastal Thiruvananthapuram years ago, has now touched the lives of tribals in the hilly terrains of Wayanad.
After a prolonged slumber, Kerala seems to have suddenly awakened to the call of next-gen communication tools, which might explain the grand welcome accorded to Community Radios in the state: three new community radios in a span of six months. While ‘Radio Mattoli’ in Wayanad has begun transmission last week, ‘Radio Tiruvalla’ is getting ready on a college campus at Tiruvalla and another yet-to-be-named one is to be aired from a Kollam hospital. Though other states such as Delhi, Jharkhand and even the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been inclined to the idea from the start, Kerala had lagged behind. That’s why Radio Tiruvalla is the 46th community radio in the country in the list provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in its website. It was Radio DCSMAT in Thiruvananthapuram that had heralded the arrival of the concept in the state, way back in 2005. Alakal FM, a novel effort on the lines of a community radio, had happened in the coastal belt of Kochu Veli later, using the facilities of DCSMAT. Alakal, however, was abandoned half-way. Radio Mattoli became a reality after a long wait. The Wayanad Social Service Society manages the radio which has its content made for the tribals in Mananthavady. Radio Tiruvalla, to be started by Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies, is largely an educative radio blended well with cultural and social information. “Tune in to bridge the knowledge divide is the catchline of our radio. >From a farmer to a scientist, everyone would find our content fruitful. Being an educational institution, it is our attempt to build a knowledgeable society,” said college principal Fr Abraham Mulamootil. Radio Tiruvalla would cover a radius of 15-20 kms, enough to reach adjoining taluks too. Very soon, the community radio of Bishop Benziger Hospital, Kollam, would also start using air space. Aimed as an add-on to the community health programmes of the hospital, it is largely a health radio, of course with a lot of community issues mixed. Though there are instances of community radios being used as a disguise by various religious and social organisations to meet their ends in many parts of the country, in the state it is expected to project a secular face. The fact that the whole concept of community radio has deviated from its basic objective is however, disturbing. * Concept actually envisaged for rural poor, but sadly hijacked by urban rich. * 52 licences issued nation-wide for setting up community radio stations. * This, in the place of 4,000 community radio stations, announced by the Centre in 2002. * No licences granted in Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern states, for reasons undisclosed. * Of the 52 community radio stations granted, 45 are campus radios, majority of them in Delhi. * First campus radio in Tamil Nadu, Anna FM, set up in 2004. Five more to come up this year. * India’s first true community radio came up last year in Andhra Pradesh, Sangham Radio, owned and run by Dalit women at Medak district. * This is also hailed as Asia’s first all-women-community radio station.
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