Community radio riases voice of WB’s remote tea garden villages

Siliguri, Dec. 19: In a remote village among tea gardens in the northern part of West Bengal, an elderly retired army soldier narrates the stories of bravery during fights. In another such hamlet, a woman sings songs which are relatable to those living in all nearby villages.

As their voices are aired on a community radio, listeners hear with rapt attention as they consider those expressions to be their own.

“Recently we visited Dupkin village where we came across a widowed woman who told us how listening to our community radio station helped her overcome depression,” radio jockey (RJ) Samir said.

Mr Samir and other RJs who work for Radio Salesian 90.8 FM, a community radio station, visit remote hill villages 6,500 feet above sea level in Darjeeling district to meet local Nepali-speaking people and make programmes on issues affecting them.

In a community radio, local people produce and broadcast their own programmes and participate in operating the station.

“From the first week of November this year, our RJs have started moving out to villages every Saturday. We have an ambitious plan to reach out to 40 remote villages,” said Father CM Paul, founder-director of Radio Salesian and vice principal of Salesian College.

These villages are often not easily accessible by vehicles, compelling the RJs to cover a portion of the journey on foot, Mr Paul said.

He said the RJs brought out happenings along with the issues faced by the villagers like transport, water, sanitation, health, education and unemployment.