At a fraction of the cost that the government incurs in disseminating information, community radio Aaykar is both raising the level of awareness about rights among Gujarat's Dang tribals, among the poorest in the country, and, through RTI, uncovering irregularities in the system

Community radio Aaykar (meaning 'listen') is playing the dual role of information-provider and watchdog in the remote region of the Dangs, in Gujarat, where there is no access to television or even a local newspaper. A 30-minute programme, aired every Thursday, both informs and entertains the region's tribals, counted as among the poorest in the country.

Launched in November 2006, with support from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a civil society organisation that runs paralegal centres in rural and tribal districts of Gujarat, Aaykar airs its programmes only in the local Dangi dialect, a mix of Gujarati and Marathi. The programmes are managed entirely by local young people who gather the facts and write their own episodes.

While CSJ provided the technical support, Dristi Media of Ahmedabad and the Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) trained local reporters and staff.

And the training seems to have paid off. A segment on the programme 'Dharai Gyas', which means 'to expose', has already caused quite a stir in the district. Six young reporters from Aaykar are actively using the Right To Information (RTI) Act to monitor implementation of various government schemes and programmes, and whether they can be properly accessed by the beneficiaries. They have also been instrumental in exposing several irregularities and instances of graft by officials.

In December, for example, the reporters focused on land issues, especially the procurement of land-related certificates. Through RTI, they sought information on the official rates for various land certificates and registration of births and deaths.

Through a number of interviews, the reporters uncovered how talatis (panchayat secretaries) were fleecing the poor tribals of Pimpari village by charging as much as Rs 100 for land certificates instead of the official Rs 5. The talatis were also charging people for registering births and deaths when the process is supposed to be free of cost.

Likewise, Aaykar's reporters have exposed corruption in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), public distribution system, forest department, and the workings of the panchayat.

Nupur of CSJ says that, at a very low cost, the organisation has managed to effectively raise the level of awareness among people in the region. The government's information department, on the other hand, spends lakhs every year but barely manages to reach out to people who need it the most.

Besides investigative reporting the programme devotes time to people's struggles and successes. Aaykar reporter Sunitaben Bagul explains that the idea is to focus on one person every week and report on his/her struggle and achievements. This can be an inspiration for everyone in the district.

Aaykar also focuses on local culture, tribal art and music. Since music transcends all barriers, it has proved to be one of the most popular features of the programme, especially among women.

Source: wwwnewindpress.com, February 4, 2007