But the two Narsammas haven’t managed to get permission to broadcast, so they record their radio magazines on tape. But that doesn’t seem to discourage the feisty duo.

And it’s not just the Narsammas in Andhra Pradesh. There’s Namma Dhwani (our voice) in Kannada since 2000, reaching out to three villages in the state through loudspeaker narrowcasts, Charkha—a development communications NGO in the North-East and Jharkhand since 1994, who continue undaunted despite not getting their own licence.

About 70 such organisations from all over India-aspirants to genuine community radio broadcasting-will come together tomorrow at a conference to urge the governement to ease the process of applying for a broadcast licence.

The Union Cabinet had cleared the proposal for community radio stations in November 2006, but small groups complain that there is still no clarity about how to do things. The conference has been organised by the Community Radio Forum-an initiative of Drishti-an Ahmedabad-based media and arts NGO.

Despite the landmark Supreme Court judgment in 1995 in the context of cricket telecast rights, saying airwaves are not the government’s monopoly and belong to the people, all governments have since chosen to hold radio networks close to their chests. And this, despite the cable revolution opening up radio. Grudgingly, licenses have been given to about 23 private entities on FM.

News by private players is still a government monopoly, restricting private players to entertainment. This, despite the fact that these local community “narrow casters” can really make a difference in natural calamities, as was demonstrated during the Bhuj earthquake by a radio station run by women from Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan.

... contd.