Radio in a corner

Recently a forum of 70 community groups got together in the capital, trying to emphasise the power of radio in their local, small contexts. They spoke persuasively of their local ‘stations’ (just places which record local information/ do some troubleshooting for problems on cassettes, which is played down to groups, on loudspeakers), and their place in the small communities they represent — be it Kutch in Gujarat, Chala Ho Gaon Mein in Palamau, Medak in Andhra Pradesh or the more adventurous real-time broadcaster, Raghav Mahto’s ‘Mansoorpur FM’ in Vaishali — who was prosecuted for playing music last year. These groups are up against a formidable mindset, despite permission to broadcast ‘in principle’.

As TV is seen as the new age medium and radio a thing of the past, the crackle of the medium wave doesn’t quite click with anyone as a viable means of communication in the age of the Youtube. But do a quick reality check on the advantages that, say, FM radio has over TV.

The National Readership Survey in the past, has recorded print figures overall as being just about equal to radio. But with just 23 FM radio stations (and that too, with no great content variation — it is all Contemporary Hits Radio — CHR, as the jargon goes) the figures have crept up, with radio beating print, coming close to figures you would expect for a vast country with high illiteracy rates. In other developed media markets too, the same trend has been noted — as TV turns into an evening medium. For mornings, busy city residents switch to radio for news and other information.

Radio was privatised in 2000 — the attempt was partial and lopsided. Stations/frequencies were auctioned, and the government made money. There was no attempt to enable a better and useful use of radio for educational purposes, or ensuring connectivity to potential disaster areas. Private stations were deemed unfit to broadcast anything other than entertainment, and even the FM stations sanctioned in the next phase were expected to stay out of any kind of news broadcasts. Since 2002, an attempt to start community radio — narrowcasting over small range — was discussed, but disallowed. But even after the cabinet cleared community radio on November 16 last year, there is little transparency, and almost all those interested complain that there is no procedural clarity.

In India, radio can reach about 97 per cent of the population with just a pencil cell (no dependency on power) and terrific mobility (no dish or license required). And it is something that, unlike TV, doesn’t distract you from your morning routine. It is a cheap and reliable way of getting across local information, mounting public awareness campaigns etc.

So why is news, as we know it, not allowed on radio? It may well be because all governments have actually understood its power. Its potential reach is what makes it tempting to retain their hold over it. Maybe it is precisely this power of radio that stands in the way of successive governments allowing it to be used by all in India. It is pretty much an old colonial government argument about what the ‘natives’ can or cannot hear. Till the absurdity of this argument in modern-day India sinks in, it is just Yeh Akashvani hai. As for the few private FM stations, they must rest content with blaring their ‘item numbers’.