COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

"Good morning listeners!! You are listening to Ilanthalir community radio

107 2 MHz! Wait a second… Did you just say "Community Radio?"

What is Community radio?

Community radio means FM radio broadcasting with the objective of serving the cause of the community by involving the members of the community in the broadcast of programs. Community radio is one that broadcast to suit the needs of a particular community with the aim of fostering development through its programming. Community radio is cost effective, easy to operate, reaches all members of the community in their own languages and, as a local, grass-root media, it maximizes the potential for development to be drawn from sharing information, knowledge and skills within the community.

Community Radio Station is for the community, to the community and by the community.

Can anyone tell me what 'Ilanthalir' Community Radio is all about?

Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) has established its Community Radio Station inside its campus with a frequency of 107.20 MHz which is targeted to adolescents both school going and out of school between the age group 10 to 19 years, youth of age group between 15 to 35 years and other community involving SHG and Gram Panchayats in and around Sriperumbudur.

Community Radio Station comprises of programmes on career, health, life skills, social issues etc. Ilanthalir also focuses on development of communication skills for students with programmes on spoken english.

Our main objective is…

The objective of the Ilanthalir community radio is to widen its bond with the community, strives to bring out talents of the adolescents in rural areas by progressing and strengthening its programming. The programmes will be broadcasted in Tamil with public interest. Programmes are produced in such a way that it has a wide reach to the listeners

You said it is targeted for 10 to 19 years and May I know why?

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. It is a period of transition which ranges in age group of 10 - 19 years. This transition involves biological, social, and psychological changes, though the biological or physiological ones are the easiest to measure objectively.

Moreover this is the period where the adolescents set out in search of their identity, skills, redefine their relationships with parents, peers etc. In short it is an age to explore experiment, enjoy and plan responsibly ahead. Firstly, dabbing with drugs, dropping out of school, trying alcohol, smoking are some of the multiple problems faced by young people today. Secondly hero worship i.e. imitating their favourite famous persons and wanting to be like them is a common phenomenon. Thirdly excitement to interact with opposite sex.

Now… where is this Ilanthalir community radio broadcasted from?

Ilanthalir community radio will be aired from completely digital, tape less studio at 107.20 MHz to rural areas in and around Sriperumbudur at the range of 18 - 20 kms

As adolescents, are we benefiting from this Community radio…or rather what do we get from this?

Ilanthalir community radio gives school children a chance to participate in radio programmes exhibiting their talents and an opportunity to express their views on topics such as Knowing oneself, Air Pollution, Environment, life skills, and personality development. They present it in a creative way through song, speech, drama, self talk, debate, discussion where they get to interact with the field experts as well.

They participate in radio programmes with the help of teachers in their school. They perform programmes which are theme based in the forms of drama, song, speech, mimicry etc. By identifying good talents, they get to present (Radio Jockey) their school programme as well.

Oh that sounds interesting! What are the other programmes in Community radio?

Ilanthalir community radio also concentrates on doing programmes with teens club as well.

Teen generally means the age group between 10 years to 19 years. Teens club simply means a group of teens come together for a common cause like empowering people, creating awareness and so on. Teen clubs acts as nurseries of youth clubs and mahila mandals. A minimum of 20 members and maximum of 50 members from the same school or village join together to form the teen club. Teen clubs focus on empowering themselves and their villages/schools. Teen clubs have a name and objective, membership, office bearers, meetings programmes and activities.

Basically Teen clubs is to bring out their leadership skills within them.

I heard Community radio must comprise of 50% community programmes.

What are the community programmes you do…?

Youth clubs

Youth club is formed to achieve common goal. It is owned and controlled by the youth themselves. Programmes on Life skills, Health, Career and other Awareness programmes will be highlighted for youth. The youth club members will produce the programmes for which orientation will be given to them by RGNIYD.

Every single individual gets to participate in radio programmes!!! Programmes are done with Self Help groups which include public activities such as agricultural events and news for farmers, programmes for women which deal with Health, Environment issues, Money savings, Cultural development, Personality Development, Socially relevant issues and Awareness programmes on HIVAIDS etc. Interviews with SHG members, important events are also announced on radio to have an up date of what is happening in and around their village.

Since Community radio encompass of 50% community programmes, RGNIYD has planned to have programmes which are community based like interviews with Panchayat presidents, SHG (self help groups) coordinators and members. Meetings with SHG coordinators are conducted with the help of concerned Panchayat president of the village. SHG members are then assembled to form teen club with their children. By identifying their talents, they are made to produce and present radio programmes in a creative manner.

Other programmes include interviews with road side shopkeepers, vendors has been planned to carry out as Vox pop (Voice of the People) by which they get to voice out their views and also communicate with others at an ample range through radio medium and news reel on panchayat programmes, school events, and current happenings in and around Sriperumbudur are included.

On the whole, it gives a nice feeling for a person to be on air and speaking,

discussing about issues which they would like to share with the entire community!