Radio Yet An Important Media For Rural Masses - Eastern Mirror
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Op-Ed

Radio yet an important media for rural masses

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By EMN Updated: Mar 25, 2014 10:45 pm

Bausha Pauwung Buchem
Nyengching, Longleng

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ophisticated world have brought us many modern gadgets, devices as medium of communication apart from an invention of technologies, equipments and tools that made immeasurably easier and comfortable lessening human labour and energy than develops one’s knowledge. We now live in globalised world as far as that one could have been used these devices. At one click/press/flick by a mouse/button/remote, going to a certain point witness any event around the globe is indeed a boon for those who could afford and used wisely. Communication also refers to that use of different forms of media, such as print, electronic media etc. These media are used as an empowerment tool which facilitate and encourage the participation of people in developmental activities. The technology is fast becoming more versatile and cheaper with the result that access to radio, television and now even to internet that can access by small set of mobile.By far and more prints media such as books, magazines, newspapers and other printed matter carries the varied kinds of information in different topics to the readers and gives its own version of the latest news that is its particular preference . However, rural peoples those who are in isolated places are away from such mainstream media as it could not reach every corner of the larger section of the society. We need times and concentration to read whole newspaper but since everything printed in newspaper is not interesting to everyone, we usually read the portions we like and leave the rest.
Television was generally not available to most family in the villages though at present we see such facilities in most families even in the rural places. Television contains both beneficial and harmful programmes that would affect our lives. Although documentaries, moral supportive and educational programmes, wildlife, planet etc. definitely are beneficial, many people wastes times, which will not give better perspective.
Radio remains the most powerful yet the cheapest mass medium for reaching large numbers of people in isolated areas. Thanks to the revolution of the transistor, even the remotest villages have access to radio, which builds on rural populations. With the expansion of number of radio stations and transmitters, we see the increase of introduction of suitable programmes, which is made keeping in view the general interest of the audience.
Radio broadcasting for rural listeners is significance for a country like ours whose economy continues a predominantly agriculture based. It gives as important tool for the rapid diffusion of important messages on new agricultural production ideas and techniques and promotes dialogue and debate on the major issues of rural development for increase productions, social forestry, preservation of environment and farm forestry and the role of panchayats in rural development. Radio is also a tool that can be used to develop community cohesion and solidarity.
News services provide national news, regional news and local news in English, Hindi as well as local/tribal dialects as can hear even by illiterate persons. AIR broadcasts bulletins such as business world, country’s economy, sports news, slow-speed bulletins and youth bulletins and features the news that are published in the press. During Parliament sessions, commentaries in English and Hindi reviewing the day’s proceeding in both the houses are also broadcast. AIR has addressed the specific requirement of audience in distinctive characteristics and presentations.
Central and state sponsored schemes such as poverty alleviation schemes, educational programmes— SSA, RMSA and adult education in local languages are also being featured with an aimed to give awareness to rural masses. The villagers could not attend at seminars or awareness campaigns like on RTI, Consumer protection/awareness, AIDS awareness, Mega Mock Drill by NSDMA, etc. held in urban places. However, through the radio report that broadcasts in regional/tribal languages, peoples from isolated places even updates their knowledge. Radio broadcasts like ‘Bosti khobor’, and ‘Jivan rashta sidha koribi’ includes family welfare—health—different diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, child survival and safe motherhood, family control that has been undertaken by many regional stations in collaboration with UNICEF and state government. The main issue relating to rights of child, gender bias and child abuse, etc. are also broadcasted. It is interesting that some of the programmes contains prize awards to those audience given right answered given by the specific programme to impress the local community as community involvement is fundamental for the successful use of radio with rural populations.
It effect when produced with audience participation, in local languages and with consideration for cultural traditions.
To cut my writing short, radio to my experience is the best sources of broadcast media, transmitting valuable and informative news giving insight in diverse subjects target to every society.
My childhood life had spent in rural native with a set of battery-operated radio—listening while I was also on work at the jhum field, at home during my household chores whenever off from school and holidays. It was a prized possession for me since I had taking a tiresome walk from my village, Bura Namsang to Bihubor, Assam from where I bought it.
I did not neglect my normal task nor cause failure because of listening to at intervening while on work since it requires only one sense of organ (ear). The broadcasting style of radio has precise, brief and comprehend. When we stay remains watching on TV, surfing the net or consume our times on other attractive gadgets, we missed the cheap radio yet the most potent medium that carry messages to the general peoples.

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By EMN Updated: Mar 25, 2014 10:45:03 pm
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