Community radio on verge of closing

As it celebrated its 10th anniversary, a community radio station run by women from a tiny village in Telangana faced an existential threat due to the lack of resources.

Radio Sangham earned fame over the past decade for its role in bridging the information gap in rural areas and for creating a model for others. It is run entirely by the women of the Machanoor village of Sangareddy, around 125km from Hyderabad.

The first-of-its-kind radio station is largely run by Dalit women and marginalised sections of society with a contribution of Rs50 (Dh2.4) from each house in the area, and was started in 2008.

While there was celebration in Machanoor village to mark the anniversary, those responsible for running the village were worried about its future due to lack of resources.

The programme organised to celebrate the occasion was attended by big names including Al Amin Yousuf, Information and Communication Advisor for South Asia Unesco.

‘Movement of citizens’

“The community radio is the movement of citizens,” said Yousuf, hailing the contribution Radio Sangham has made over the years by sharing community resources and the local language, Telugu.

“You are the best example of the Fourth Estate where you enjoy complete independence in terms of content and what to broadcast,” he added.

NA Shaa Ansari, president of the Community Radio Association of India, criticised the government’s policies towards community radios and said very few of them were able to raise their own resources.

P.V. Sateesh, Director DDS, spoke about the serious challenges the radio station was facing due to the lack of funds and resources.

“We immediately need Rs10 lakh [Rs1 million, Dh49,743] to upgrade the infrastructure and pay salaries,” he said.