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“Community media are characterized by their accountability to the communities they serve. They emerge as a result of popular movements that strive to attain an important space in citizen participation and demand the right to own and operate free from political or commercial interference.”- UNESCO
Community media is one that is operated:• in the community,
COMMUNITY RADIO 5 points to define community radio-
Community-based (location, ownership and control); Independent (not relational but on the influence and transparency); Not-for-profit (but for sustenance), For the community (social, economic and cultural benefits of the community); and Participatory (at all levels of programming, operation and finance).
Bruce Girard (2007)
Definition Community radio is primarily a low power FM broadcasting service
owned, controlled, managed and run by a particular community with a non profit motive for providing and sharing information, education and entertainment which may lead to eradicate digital divide, address identity crisis, remove socio-economic hindrance, promote local culture and resolve local issues resulting in overall development of a community (By- Ankuran Dutta & Anamika Ray).
CR AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT Community Radio plays a very important role
in the community during a disaster by providing them information on the preventive methods to be taken during a disaster-
Dr Satendra, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management*
In the Bangalore Declaration community radios have committed to provide localized emergency news, disaster recovery, relief, rehabilitation, and sustainable alternatives as well as create a space for trauma healing and reaffirming faith in the face of adversity
The role of community radio is tremendous in natural calamities. A public radio station with a reach of 15-20km becomes highly powerful with the integration of mobile telephony in real time. The region, brutalized by floods, has only three community radios running—Kumaon Vani (Mukteshwar), Henvalvani (Chamba Valley) and Mandakini Ki Awaz (Rudraprayag). These radio stations have been broadcasting live programmes that inform and sensitize communities and tried to reach all flood-affected families.*
•Six Community Radio Stations operated in coastal region of Bangladesh are now continuously working to address the upcoming cyclone “Mahasen”. Information are being provided to the community regarding preparedness for saving their lives, cattles and assets by 435 staffs and volunteers and 24,102 listener members of listeners clubs around the radio stations- http://www.bnnrc.net
•Monu Mia is no stranger to cyclones, “I have survived several cyclones, but the memory of losing my family in a cyclone stays with me”.**http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/ourstories/on-the-air-out-of-danger-in-bangladesh.html
"The local information system collapsed. We saw that communities needed to have their community stations back on air so we did a needs assessment and restarted as many stations as possible. We broadcast special programs to help people after the earthquake. We literally broadcast from the field, there were no buildings. We broadcast from tents and the open air”*
RECOMMANDATIONS Using blended approach Organising the communities to plan, implement and monitor the disaster
management strategies through CR. Programmes on disaster preparedness Facilitating relief, rehabilitation and restoration initiatives through CR. Advocating through CR for appropriate technology for prevention and
rehabilitation. Building capacity of the local communities to cope up with the disasters using
different Radio Formats. Training on disaster management, particularly on coordinating relief activity and information updates for radio staff.
Importance of community-based disaster response Need to develop a handbook/manual on different aspects of disaster
management through CR Dispel rumours and myths on disasters though CR formats like drama, feature. Trauma healing programmes through CR Help establish links with relevant government offices and NGOs Create disaster management network