‘Mandakini Ki Aawaz’ is set to go on air in the disaster prone state of Uttarakhand after struggling for four years to secure a Community Radio license.

Rudraprayag district’s first Community Radio Station is all set to go on air on 21st September 2014. ‘Mandakini Ki Aawaz’ would become the fourth Community Radio Station to be run by an NGO in the Uttarakhand region.

After struggling for four years to obtain a Community Radio license through a complex procedure, Mandakini Ki Aawaz Kalyan Sewa Samiti, finally received their Wireless Operating Licence (WOL). The organisation applied for the license for setting up a Community Radio station in 2010.

However, after a long wait, the organisation was issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) due to the delay caused by the line ministries in providing their clearances.

A small group of people in Rudraprayag heard about Community Radio, a participatory communication medium in 2001, and decided to set up a not-for-profit organisation with the sole aim of running and operating a Community Radio Station to contribute to the development of their community.

Even after various challenges, the organisation is all set to launch Uttarakhand state’s yet another Community Radio Station achat 10 viagra.

While talking on behalf of the organisation and sharing its experience of obtaining the license, Manvendra Singh Negi from Mandakini ki Aawaz, says, “There is a need to provide awareness and information about not only the Community Radio but also the various stages of the licensing procedure.” He added, “People and organisations are still not aware about the prevalence of one stop access point like the Community Radio Facilitation Centre (CRFC), which not only guides them but also provides them with all the necessary information regarding the Community Radio licensing procedure’.

Uttarakhand has been listed as one of the disaster prone zones of Indian subcontinent by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Looking at the vulnerability of the state to disasters, it is important to note why only seven licenses have been granted in the state. Understandably, a better presence of Community Radio Stations can prove handy in tackling various emergency situations.

Author: Rupica Saxena Bisht, CRFC/ OneWorld