[creative-radio] "Disaster management should explore CR stations"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: sajan venniyoor <venniyoorATgmailDOTcom>
Date: 15 July 2013 12:01
Subject: [cr-india] "Disaster management should explore CR stations"
To: CR India < , crf-indiaATgooglegroups


Disaster management should explore CR stations
RadioandMusic.com | 15 Jul 2013

MUMBAI: Generally, the Community Radio (CR) provides information on health,
education and often is instrumental in spreading awareness. But the role of
CR is measured during crisis, especially when the other forms of
communication come to a standstill.

The core objective of the CR is to prevent panic and the same purpose was
served during the recent disaster at Uttarakhand by the existing CR in the
affected areas. But clearly there is a growing demand for more and more CR
stations. Henvalvani, Mandakini Ki Awaz and Kumaon Vani are few CR stations
that are based in these affected area. When Radioandmusic.com contacted
Kumaon Vani, they informed that they had remained closed for a couple of
days due to heavy rains and landslides."As other means of communication got
disrupted, we had to play a major role in providing information. It was a
challenge to set-up anything in the area and communication was affected
badly," said an official at Kumaon Vani.

In 2004, when Tsunami hit the state of Tamil Nadu, the CR Anna played an
instrumental role in providing information about the survivors and the
areas affected. Dr R Sreedher along with a group of university students
played a major role by airing the programs to provide relief to the
affected area. Media expert and Community Radio Practitioner Dr R Sreedher
said, "The government is not interested in promoting Community radio
stations. If they (government) could set-up 700 stations at the coast line,
it would bring-up such a beautiful group of Community radio stations. We
had informed them about the need of the same but the Disaster Management
Authority of India has not even considered our demand for emergency
transmitters."

Emphasising on the need of transmitters, he said that the device is useful
when the survivors are trying to get in touch with the army especially
when, the network on the mobiles do not work.

On being asked [about] the community radio stations being funded by NGO's,
Sreedher further said, "There is nothing happening and the so-called
activist make money and play a blame game. Post the disaster in
Uttarkhand, there will be NGO's who might come up with fancy names and
start some transmission work and fill their pockets taking financial aid
from foreign agencies."

Community Radio Association national president Kandarpa Das said that the
disaster management has not even considered the role of CR. "However, we
are open to talks but till date we have not been approached by them.
Nevertheless we have partnered with many organisations lately to explore
the powerful tool for the benefit of the community. If the disaster
management explores the possibility of community radio station then it
would empower them during the rescue management. A close co-ordination with
Community radio stations will prove very positive," said Das.

Das further added that of the NGO has completed its three years, they might
get an approval from the MIB (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) but
the WPC (Wireless Planning Commission) clearance for the operation might
take long."WPC, department of telecom who is responsible in allocation of
frequency have in past few years, made things reasonably difficult for
setting-up of any new CR stations," he concluded.

*Source: RT @creative_radio: Disaster management should explore Community
Radio stations | Editorial-News http://ow.ly/mZjqm *

Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.in


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