THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY RADIO

IN DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITY

FUNCTIONING AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOL

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

THE PUDUCHERRY STATE

NEED AND ROLE OF COMMUNITY RADIO

Villages in rural India are not essentially facing the same types of problems or
expectations.
Our country is culturally, geographically, educationally and economically
divergent.
The local language, customs and social practices, vary from place to place and
region to region.
Community radio always plays a vital role in building alive communities, in
mobilizing groups to action by informing and empowering citizens, in giving voice
to the marginalized groups of society, and in bringing community needs to the
attention of local and even national governments.
This type of radio service that offers a model of radio broadcasting beyond
commercial and public service.
The content of broadcasting is largely popular and relevant to specific audience
but which may often be overlooked by commercial or mass- media broadcasters.
Cont

NEED AND ROLE OF COMMUNITY RADIO

It is functioning as a Public Relations Tools for rural development.

Community radio stations are operated, owned, and driven by the communities
they serve.
In many parts of the world today, community radio acts as a vehicle for the
community and voluntary sector, civil society, agencies, NGOs and citizens to
work in partnership to promote community development.
By the core aims and objectives of this model of broadcasting, community radio
stations often serve their listeners by offering a variety of content that is not
necessarily provided by the larger commercial radio stations.

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN INDIA

In India the campaign to legitimize community radio began in 1990s.
Only educational radio stations were originally permitted.
Anna FM was India's first campus "community" radio station. Launched
on 1 February 2004, it is run by the EMRC.& all programmes are
produced by Media Science students at Anna University.
On 16 November 2006, the government of India implemented new
Community Radio Guidelines, which permit NGOs and other civil
organizations to own and operate community radio stations.
About 4,000 community radio licenses are being offered across India.
30 November 2008, the Ministry of I & B had received 297 applications
for community radio licenses and 38 were operational.
Cont

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN INDIA

The first community-based radio station licensed to an NGO was
launched on 15 October 2008, when SANGHAM RADIO in Pastapur
village, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh state went on the air at 11:00 am
on 90.4 MHz, is licensed to the Deccan Development Society.
The second NGO-led community radio station in India was launched on
23 October 2008 at Taragram in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh state. Named
RADIO BUNDELKHAND after the Bundelkhand region of central India
where it is located, the radio station is licensed to the Society for
Development Alternatives. Radio Bundelkhand also broadcasts on 90.4
MHz for four hours a day.
Grant of Permission Agreements (GOPA) in 2009,for 62 community radio
stations.
Community Radio SARANG on 107.8 is managed by the Mangalore
Jesuit Educational Society and run by St. Aloysius College, Mangalore.
Cont

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN INDIA

January 2005 ,BANASTHALI RADIO was the first community radio
station licensed in the state of Rajasthan as a campus radio
station for students
To create a common platform for the local communities of Supi
in Uttarakhand, TERI launched KUMAON VANI, a community
radio service, on March 11, 2010
Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati, Assam,
aired the first programme on 28 January 2009 as an
experimental broadcast.
JNAN TARANGA (90.4 FM), the first community radio service in
northeastern India, began regular broadcasts November 20,
2010.

COMMUNITY RADIO POLICY

Any not-for-profit "legal entity" except individuals, political parties, criminal and
banned organizations - can apply for a Community Radio license.
Central funding is not available .

To operate a 100-watt radio station, with a coverage area of

approximately a 12-km radius. A maximum antenna height of 30 meters is allowed.
Community radio stations are expected to produce at least 50 percent of their
programmes locally, as much as possible in the local language or dialect. The
stress is on developmental programming, although there is no explicit ban on
entertainment.
News programmes are banned.
The government recently clarified that certain categories of news are permitted on
radio, including sports news and commentaries, information on traffic and weather
conditions, coverage of cultural events and festivals, information on academic
events, public announcements pertaining to utilities such as electricity and the
water supply, disaster warnings and health alerts.
Cont

COMMUNITY RADIO POLICY

Five minutes of advertising per hour is allowed on community radio. Sponsored
programs are not allowed, except when the program is sponsored by the government
at the local or state level.
The Community Radio Forum, India, was registered as a Society and Trust on 26
February 2008.
In the meantime, mobile telephone operators have begun to offer commercial
broadcast services over GSM, evading government restrictions built around traditional
concepts of broadcasting technology,By 1 st July 2010.
The Ministry of I&B announced that 715 applications for Community Radio licenses had
been received, including 104 under the old campus-radio guidelines.
231 Letters of Intent were issued.
Grant of Permission Agreements (GOPA) were signed with 102 applicants, and 68
community radio stations were on the air. 107 applications were rejected, and 377
applications were being processed.

COMMUNITY RADIO IN PUDUCHERRY

Community radio in Puducherry State is a type of radio service that outfit to
the interests of a certain area, broadcasting content that is popular to
specific local audience of Pondicherry and Karaikal
Frequency
(in kHz, FM
in MHz)

Name

Address
Karaikal

100.3 MHz

All India Radio Karaikal

(AIR / Akashvani Karaikal)

Radio Avenue, Nehru Nagar, Karaikal 609605

Pandicherry (Puducherry)
1215 kHz
101.3 MHz
102.8 MHz

All India Radio Pondicherry

(AIR / Akashvani Puducherry)

90.8MHz

HONY FM

92.7 MHz

Big 92.7 FM

93.5 MHz

Suryan FM

106.4 MHz

Hello FM

107.8 MHz

Puduvai Vaani

90.4MHz

NILA FM

204, Coubert Avenue,

Gorimedu, Pondicherry - 605001
Achariya Arts & Science College
Achariyapuram, Villianur,
Pondicherry - 605110
Pondicherry

G-1, Industrial Estate,

Thattanchavady, Pondicherry .
Malar Publications, Pondicherry
Convention-cum-Cultural Centre
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry - 605014
Sri Manakula Vinayagar EngineeringCollege,
Madagadipet,
Pondicherry - 107

COMMUNITY RADIO IN PUDUCHERRY

NAME OF RADIO

COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

Suryan FM

Sun Network owns two Radio brands: Suryan FM in Tamil Nadu and for other
Pondicherry territories Red FM (Suryan FM 93.5). The top slot is a result of a carefully
planned thoroughly enjoyable, round-the-clock, wholesome entertainmentoriented package and there is a substantial localization of content to retain the
regional flavor.

Hello FM

Hello FM is the largest network of private FM radio stations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The sound-scpe of Hello FM 106.4 is a reflection of the mood-map of the city.
minute detail has been carefully designed to ensure that it addresses the appropriate
mood of the relevant target group at the right moment of the day.

Big 92.7 FM

92.7 BIG FM is a nationwide private FM radio station in India owned by Indian businessman
Anil Ambani. It broadcasts at 92.7 MHz (92.7FM).Currently, it covers 45 cities. This is the only

private FM radio station t from Srinagar and Jammu in J& K

HONY FM

ACHARIYA Arts and Science College, Villianur, Pondicherry has started 'HONEY FM 90.8
MHz' and working for particular community development like education, health and
sanitation, etc. It is also to help students to understand the meaningful relationships
between art and craft and technology so as to enable them to become globally
recognized media professionals Department owns an FM Radio station and television
channel namely 'HONEY FM' helping the students to prepare themselves for the industry

Puduvai
Vaani

The Puduvai Vaani is very important Community Radio Station in Puducherry State
established by Pondicherry University with the support of UGC, New Delhi. The full time
transmission was gone on air from 1st January 2009 onwards. Puduvai Vaani has been
started with an aim to make awareness among the rural community people to improve
their nature of life style.

Puduvai Vaani, Honey F.M., Akashvani Puducherry and Karaikal are mainly functioning as community radio in
Puducherry State. This community radios are the public broadcaster to awaken, inform, enlighten educate and
entertain all section of the people including the programme on women empowerment, communal harmony, food
habit, health and sanitation, and education. It also brings out the hidden talents of the students in and around the
University campus.

METHODOLOGY
A list of 100 people was selected who were actively involved in
programmes of the community radio.

Among these 100 people, 90 respondents have given response

for this study.
17 respondents who were working in the Government of Puducherry
were also interviewed.
The data were collected by personal contacts with respondents and
by attending Self Help Group meetings and with the help of the
interpreter.

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

ON FAMILY SYSTEM
Sl.
No

CHANGE INDICATORS

IMPACT
DIMENSIONS

YES
Nos.

NO

Percentage Nos.

Percentage

Family planning
and its importance

70

77.80

20

22.20

Change in family
occupation

25

27.80

65

72.20

Dowry has
decreased for the
past few years

59

65.55

31

34.45

Knowledge on
age of marriage
for boy/girl has
increased

55

61.11

35

38.89

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

ON FOOD HABIT
Sl. No

CHANGE INDICATORS

IMPACT DIMENSIONS

YES

NO

Nos.

Percentage

Nos.

Percentage

Food habits have changed

in recent past due to
awareness programmes

32

35.55

58

64.45

Knowledge about healthy

and balanced diet has
increased

72

80

18

20

Consumption of milk and

fruits has gone up due to
awareness

39

43.33

51

56.47

Maintaining cleanliness
has increased

75

83.33

15

16.67

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

ON EDUCATION
Sl. No

CHANGE INDICATORS

IMPACT DIMENSIONS

YES
Nos.

NO

Percentage Nos.

Percentage

Started sending
children to school
regularly

79

87.78

11

12.22

Programmes
motivated boy / girl
to go out for higher
studies

25

27.78

65

72.22

Girl education has

increased

50

55.56

40

44.44

Children motivated
to go for higher
studies

73

81.11

17

18.89

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

ON HEALTH AND SANITATION
Sl. No

CHANGE INDICATORS

IMPACT DIMENSIONS

YES

NO

Nos.

Percentage

Nos.

Percentage

Awareness programmes
have increased the
knowledge on given
preventive cares to
children

72

80

18

20

Taking precautionary
measures for keeping
members of the family
disease free

53

58.89

37

41.11

Timely use of medicines

51

56.67

39

43.33

Timely treatment of sick

members of family

75

83.33

15

16.67

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

ON LEADERSHIP

Sl.
No

CHANGE INDICATORS
IMPACT
DIMENSIONS

YES

NO

Nos. Percentage Nos. Percentage

Respondent offers
advice and
information to
others

28

31.11

62

68.89

Respondent used to
seek advice and
information from
others

64

71.11

26

28.89

OVERALL SOCIAL IMPACT OF COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
100 FAMILY
90

80
70
60
50

FAMILY

40
30
20
10
0

FAMILY SYSTEM
40%

FOOD HABIT
50%

EDUCATION
60%

HEALTH
LEADERSHIP80%
&SANITATION
70%

CONCLUSION
In the real sense, community radio plays a essential role in making
the masses aware about their basic rights and duties.

Not only limited to solving problems which a common man faces

in his day-to-day life, community radio provides him a strong
platform from where he can freely disseminate his ideas among his
community members in the best possible manner. Thus, community
radio becomes one of the important instruments in strengthening
our Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.
The overall social impact of community development
programmes likes women empowerment, communal harmony,
health and sanitations, and education indicated that the
participation and awareness created by various community
development programmes had great impact on leadership
behaviour.
Leadership was accorded with the highest mean score of 80 and
hence was ranked first and this was followed by health and
sanitation, education, food habit and family system which were
ranked second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Cont

CONCLUSION
Besides solving social problems as well as entertaining local people,
community radio also acts as an intermediary between the
Government and the local masses.
This is the place from where local people can air their grievances to
the Government as well as get the solutions to their problems too.
Needless to say, community radio has played a major role in
bridging the communication gap between the Government and the
local people. As, the community radio is still evolving it might be
possible that in the near future, we will witness its various new forms
which will be technologically more superior as well as user-friendly.
Well, whatever the case may be, community radio has proved to
be one of the best medium of communication at the grass-root level.
Cont

CONCLUSION
The findings of the study may be utilized by the extension agencies,
non-Government organizations, policy makers and other similar
organizations for community mobilization.
Findings of impact assessment of community radio station would help
the researchers to understand how timely access to information can
help in socio-economic and cultural development of the people.
Dimensions such as leadership, family system, savings, education,
health and sanitation, etc have brought about significant changes in
the life of the people in Puducherry State.
Hence, community radio can play a catalytic role in changing the
life of the rural people.

Thank You