COMMUNITY RADIO HAS THE POWER... BUT IS SOUTH ASIA TUNED IN?
By Frederick Noronha
Nepal has moved far ahead of its other South Asian neighbours in its
attempts to open-up its air-waves, and Sri Lanka has the longest history
of promoting 'community radio' initiatives. So what's the fate of this
powerful medium in this populous part of the planet? Ask Ian Pringle...
"Bangladesh may soon see some interesting developments on this front.
India could be a most interesting place in many respects... Once the
reluctance of the government (to open up community radio stations) is
overcome (much could happen here)," says Pringle. In his early thirties,
this Canadian volunteer has been closely connected with attempts to
promote community radio in South Asia.
Pringle fell in love with alternative radio broadcasting even while
still a college student back in Canada. Later on, he spent months in
Kathmandu, helping to prop up the first community radio station in South
Asia -- a unique experiment called Radio Sagarmatha.
Currently, he is an 'international cooperant' with the Canadian Centre
for International Studies and Cooperation, one of the largest Canadian
networks in humanitarian development.
Recently in Bangalore, Pringle points to Nepal's opening up of its
airwaves. "There are three community radio stations in Nepal, and a
license has been given for the fourth. Besides, there are (other)
stations airing more community radio-style programmes. There is also a
station put up by the municipal government of Kathmandu," he says.
After overcoming reluctance over granting licenses to radio stations in
the mid-nineties, Nepal has come a long way. In the Kathmandu Valley,
there are five commercial broadcasters, and six more outside the Valley.
Some 15 more parties have applied for licenses, according to Pringle.
In contrast, India has made little headway. In the mid-1990s, there was
much expectation that this country would give its citizens a voice on
the air-waves. The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that the air-waves cannot
be monopolised by the government, and belonged to the public. The
National Front governments at the Centre went ahead with almost
approving plans to allow community radio stations.
But then all this drastically came to a halt. So abrupt was the change,
that UNESCO-funded radio station facilities have even come up in places
like Medak, Andhra Pradesh. These centres are left high and dry with all
the technology and skills, but no permission to broadcast their
programmes!
Perhaps the basic question is: why radio?
For over 50 years, radio has been seen as a key tool globally for
participatory communication and development. Radio clearly has its
advantages. It is cost-efficient, both for the station and for
listeners. Secondly, it is ideal for a population that includes many
illiterates and poor, as in South Asia. Thirdly, it is relevant to local
practices, traditions and culture. Fourth, once initial investment is
made in equipment, sustainability is feasible. Fifth, in terms of
geographical coverage too, radio scores. Lastly, the convergence between
radio and Internet is providing new strengths to community radio.
But in South Asia, things have been different.
India, for instance, shifted from having government-dominated air-waves
to a commercialised scenario where licenses to broadcast cost millions
of rupees. Besides, the satellite TV boom has led elites here to believe
that radio is a dead medium which hardly deserves much attention.
Pringle also points to the long community radio tradition of countries
like Canada. "Quebec has a very strong tradition of this," he says.
AMARC, the world association of community radio broadcasters, also has
its international secretariat in Canada, as Pringle points out.
Canada's first community radio stations came up in the 1970s, after a
broad based movement on this. Earlier too, in the 1950s, Canada had a
very well known programme in farm radio broadcasting. Other experiments
were done in interactive two-way communication, and the use of radio to
mobilise people.
Over the years, he says, community radio stations have done well in
Canada. "There have been very few closures of stations. On the other
hand, a lot of innovation has gone into making such stations
sustainable," he points out.
One way is by linking up such radio stations with higher education
institutions, thus giving them a strong financial base and a sustainable
number of eager volunteers. Currently, Canada has about a couple of
hundred community radio stations, Pringle estimates.
Even if Nepal has gone ahead, he suggests that there is some reluctance
in promoting radio stations there. For instance, a license feel to set
up a small 100watt transmitter costs about Nepali Rs 50-55,000 (about
Indian Rs 30,000) per year.
"In Nepal, sanctioning community-radio licenses is a funding source for
the government. This is perhaps the greatest impediment to sustainable
community radio stations. Upto one-third or half of what any village
needs to set up a basic radio station goes to paying the license fee,"
he explains.
In contrast, in Canada it just costs Can$25 (about US$18) to set up a
radio station. Of course, this has lead to the overcrowding of the
frequencies in some major cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
So new stations can't be set up there; but they can in other areas. Low
powered FM transmitters in any case don't block too much bandwidth; the
same frequencies could be used by another station in another
geographical area.
In India, the government permitted private players to bid for costly
radio-broadcasting licenses, which costs upto a few million rupees. So
far, educational institutions (including universities) or not-for-profit
organisations and NGOs wanting to set up their own radio stations are
neither given permission nor denied permission for the same.
In Nepal, Pringle also sees "political impediments" in granting
licenses. Not everybody making a good application is assured of a
license. "We (in South Asia) have a long way to go for providing a good
structure to promote the growth of community radio," say he.
"In South Asia, you could have thousands (of low powered, FM radio
transmitters)," argues Pringle.
In Canada, advertising is allowed on community stations. But some
stations prefer not to take ads, as it changes their character. In
Nepal, no distinction is made between commercial broadcasters and
community ones.
Pringle says he fell in love with radio while still in college at
Montreal's McGill University. "It's fun.... I like it," he says. He
started off as an unpaid volunteer in his varsity station.
More seriously, he notes: "Community radio offers a model as no other
media does. It can be very grassroots, and very democratic, in the true
sense of the word," he says.
Despite the problems, and government reluctance in India, Pringle is
optimistic. "You have an extremely well developed NGO sector. There are
organisations in India that can support community radio -- either
business ones or foundations. You have lots of metropolitan areas with
markets to sustain community broadcasters, and sufficient technical
skills. India would be less dependent on foreign (technical and other
skills)," he says.
Contacts: Ian Pringle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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| Frederick Noronha, Freelance Journalist |
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