Radio triumphs over technological shifts

There’s YouTube and InstaReels, never mind old fashioned TV. WhatsApp chat groups bombard us with shared media too. 

Today Indians are inundated with video and text options – a dizzying array of ways to be informed and entertained. 

And yet more and more people are listening to radio, particularly in tier II and Tier III cities, according to a survey conducted by the consumer insights firm Toluna. 

This is no surprise to those of us who have been working with community radio (CR) for over two decades. 

In mid 1990s when the Supreme Court declared India’s airwaves to be public property, many advocacy groups, including ours called Ideosync Media Combine, worked with communities to articulate the need for a policy that enabled local radio licenses to become available to civil society. 

There are over 350 Community Radio stations across India many of which are managed and governed by community members.

“There’s hardly any other media where 80% of the content comes through the direct participation of the community. Community radio Waqt Ki Awaaz is one such radio station where every program that is broadcast has an element of community participation,” said Hari Pandey, a community reporter at Waqt Ki Awaaz. 

Hari has worked with the local Community Radio for over a decade. He comes from a village quite close to the CR station and was first a regular listener and then trained to become a broadcaster at the station.

Also Read | Community radio creates waves of change in Karnataka villages

It is crucial to note that in rural India 34.1% women and 18.5% men are faced with illiteracy. In times when crucial information regarding health, economy, banking, and infrastructure is disseminated through the internet it is also important to note that 75.4% women and 51.3% men in rural areas have never used the internet. In urban areas, 48.2% of women and 27.5 % of men have never used the internet. In this scenario, an oral medium that broadcasts in local dialects is like a lifeline. 

Making India inclusive

Several community Radio stations have started programs that act as a window into the online world for the communities. Innovative broadcast practices are used to bring information and knowledge that is available on the internet in local languages and dialects, thus helping their listeners overcome the challenges of the digital divide that continues to persist in India. 

Community Radio stations are also adapting innovative ways to showcase their participatory media creation practices by adapting internet streaming audio and social media live video cast of the studio broadcast process, community engagement and field recording sessions undertaken by community radio reporters. “Our job is to reach every listener and our community radio strives to do that irrespective of the technologies,” says Arti from Henval vani

India has forever been a country of oral traditions. While India has 22 separate official languages, it is home to a total of 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. This raises the question of regional diversity on the internet. Our oral histories run deep and hold the magic of traditional knowledge systems, cultural memories and folklore. 

“At Alfaz-e-Mewat we engage with women, especially farm laborers who have never received any attention in the community for the work they do and the knowledge they hold. And the other thing we do is restore and share the dying mirasi folk art,” said Pooja Murada from Alfaz e Mewat.

Also Read | Community radios in Odisha help improve gender parity

A feminist medium

Radio enables women to speak their truth to the powers that be. As an audio medium, it keeps their identities safe if so required, empowering them by amplifying their voices, narratives and experiences.  

Our Community Radio is the voice of our local people. My people experience a sense of freedom when they call into our radio and are able to express themselves and voice their opinions

Radio has always been a modern medium – enabling multitasking. People listen to the radio while doing other things – cooking, farming, driving, and working. 

The local CR broadcasting in the local dialects with the voices of the local people becomes a daily connection for the community unto itself. And this connection empowers and enables the local citizen, giving her agency. 

“Our Community Radio is the voice of our local people. My people experience a sense of freedom when they call into our radio and are able to express themselves and voice their opinions,” Arti Bisht from Henval Vani told me with much pride. “Anyone from our community can join our Radio station and learn to become a broadcaster”, she says.

As we commemorate World Radio Day, while we are proud that radio is continuing to play a critical role in the lives of communities, let us also remember that we might be among the only democracies in the world where news is not allowed on radio. 

A medium of such importance in the life of local people must be strengthened with the rights that every independent media deserves in a free and democratic country. 

Also Read | Community radio helps villagers get factual, timely information

As we listen in to local voices in local dialects this radio day, let us hold dear the dream of a community radio that realises its full potential as a free local media that is able to hold those in power to account like any independent media should be able to, fearlessly broadcasting local news and views apart from the beautiful local songs, music and information on health and education, work and livelihood that they already do.

The lead image at the top shows Arti Bisht records local women as they meet in her farm. This photograph was taken when Arti had just begun her Radio journey. Today she is a popular and accomplished reporter at Henval vani and manages the radio station.

Venu Arora is a researcher, trainer, social change professional and film-maker. She is co-founder of Ideosync Media Combine. Venu also teaches Radio and Television at Jindal Global University.