NECESSATIES OF THE COMMUNITY RADIO IN RASUWA DISTRICT

DEFINATION

The word "community" is formed from the two Latin words "com" and "munis" where "com" means together and "minus" means serving.From these meaning we know community means living together or helping each other.Community means the groups of those persons who settled in the particular boundary or specific area and live common life style,culture and tradition.They live together not for only fixed objectives but for small and small objectives also.thus "community" word stands for all the activities what is done for the society or social welfare. "Community Radio"is that organization which is conducted from such special united groups taking the mission and objectives of the social welfare and non commercial.Community Radio is quite ordinary than other media .These are not established for earn profit.

Since Nepal has a very low literacy rate print media cannot play vital role in educating the people in comparison to broadcast media. Sale and distribution of printed material has limited scope due to the difficulty in transportation and low purchasing power. Therefore community Radio can be very useful in the remote areas of the country. In this situation Community Audio Tower and Community Radio Programmes, if planned, managed and handled properly, can server the purpose of empowering and changing the rural people.Commonly there are three types of Radio classified according to the government of Nepal in the process of the providing them liscence.Such as-

1) Radio conducted from the government or public Radio.

2) Profit based Radio or Commercial Radio.

3) Leadership of special social group or Community Radio.

DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY RADIO

In 1920 A.D. Radio development was started but for the long time it was not in the effort of the general people.Always the rulers used it as the means for broadcasting progammes and makes the people full of the illusion.It ws not able to became the friends of the happy and sorrows.Because of this miserable condition as an alternative Radio the history of the Community Radio was started.

In 1947 A.D.the labours of the mines of the Bolivia established Radio named "Voice of the minors" in the objectives of the protection of the rights of labour.All the labours are attracted from the progammes broadcasting from this Radio.Grdully development of this Radio makes it the milesstone for the development of the Community Radio.Its popularity is growing day by day.Looking the popularities of this different Radio stations were established in more than 20 industries of the Bolivia.These Radios are called "Minors Radio". All types of the people are attracted from the progrms of this Radio.The prist of the neighbouring country Colombia were highly influnced and they lso established many Radios tking objectives of the publicise the religion.In the decades of 70's the culture of establishment of the community Radio was widely developed in many countries of the Europe and Australia.It effects the Radios conducted from the govrnment.Because of its growing popularity the rulers are not able to prohibit on the broadcasting of the Community Radio.

Only after the restoration of the democracy in Nepal in 2046 B.S. Nepelese people feel peace and some how security.The provisions written in the constitution " Fundamental Rights" are the great achievements of the Nepalese people.In Nepal there is provision to give license for the private radio station. Most of the development-oriented organizations and some of the Village Development Committee have visualized the community broadcasting as an effective media for the empowerment/ development of the mass. In this respect an audio tower can be a pre broadcasting exercise in the rural areas. Such systems have been successfully conducted in other counters such as Philippines, Shrilanka, Thailand etc. for the development of the community. In some villages of Nepal too such audio towers are under operation. They are totally controlled and managed by the community. According to the Natonal Communication Policy -2049, the private sector also get opportinuties of brodcasting educational and entertainment orientd progamme through the F.M.(Frequency Modulation).

After the introduction of the Ntional Broadcasting Procedures-2052,Radio Nepal started F.M.from 100 mhz.In 2054 Jestha ,Radio Sagarmathagot liscence for broadcasting progammes.This is the first Radiogetting liscence from private sector.It start the history of private sector in Nepal.This is also the first community F.M.of the south Asia.some of the Community Radios of Nepal are-Bijaya F.M.,Rupendhai F.M. of Save the environment movement of Rupendhai.Radio Karnali of Jumla, Radio Bheri of Surkhet, Radio Palung of Makwanpur, Bheri Aawaj of the Humanism Research Centre Banke, Saipal F.M. of Bajhang,Muktinath F.M. of the Palpa, Ghoda Ghodi F.M. of Kailali, Solu F.M. of the Solukhumbu, Radio Tulsipur of Dang, Radio Madan Pokhara of Madan Pokhara V.D.C. of the Palpa,ECR F.M. etc.So many Community Radio are conducted in the different parts of the country

RASUWA DISTRICT
Nepal is divided into three geographical divisions and five development regions. We will initially focus Rasuwa district of the central development region of the Himalayan region. Rasuwa district lies in the northern part of Nepal the Chinese boarder, 90km north of kathmandu.According to the cencus of 2058 B.S. 43,906 people are living there.there are 8,609 houses in the different part of the district.Among the total population 22,552 were men and 21,345 were women.The population density is 29 person per sq/Km and the population increasing ratio is 1.8 percent.The total area of ths district is 1514 sq/Km.The northen part is touched with China,Eastern part with Sindhupalchowk district,Nuwakot district in southern part and Dhading district in the western part.There are 9 Illakas and 18 V.D.C.'s similarly only one election area.83 percent of the people in this district are from the Mongolain (Tamang) society.

In the northern part commonly Tamang people re living where as in the southern part Tamang ,Gurung,Magar,Newar,Dalit,Brahman and Chhetri people are living.Most of the people are backward in the education.which effect them in overall sector.They are not able to use their rights properly.Agriculture is the main occupation of the people.Most of the people are under the line of the poverty.There is not any lternative sources of income in this district.Most part oif this district is not touched by transportation link.

PRESENT SITUATION OF THE MEDIA IN RASUWA

There is not any registerd paper, F.M.,T.V. in Rasuwa district.Only the Radio Nepal is clearly listened in the major parts of the Rasuwa.The daily newspapers from Kathmandu such as "Kantipur" , "Gorkhapatra","Nepal Samacharpatra" reaches district deadquater only in 5 to 6 o'clock in the evening hour.It is not possible for proper distribution of the Daily Newspapers in most parts of the district.Only Betrawati, Kalikasthan, Dhunche, Shyapru Bensi The commercial area apporaches the Newspapers.The literacy rate of Rasuwa is only 28 percent. That is why also print media is not the effective means of the communication.On the other hand there is not wide development of the transportation so,it creates the difficulties on the distribution of the papers.when the people cant get papers on time the news value is also decrease.People commonly have not the habit of reading newspaper.

Most of the people of the Rasuwa use electricity.Radio,Television are commonly used but the progammes which are broadcasting or telecasting are not effective for the people.Most of the people in Rasuwa are from Tamang society .They faces the lingustics problem also.

Some NGO's published souvenior including developmental activities and information of the Rasuwa.Canvas Research Center ,Betrawati is pioneer organisation for the development of the communication there.It provides Basic Journalism Traning for 83 youths of rasuwa who had passed S.L.C. examination and time to time aware the different sectors of district for the development of the Community Radio in Rasuwa.This organisation regularly publishing "CANVAS" half yearly magazine,which is developing as the references about the study of Rasuwa.For the following purpose there is more necessaties of the Community Radio.
To give a voice to rural people and a forum for the exchange of their information, opinions and experiences.
To encourage rural new literate people to continue reading.
To inform rural people about development activities in rural areas.
To expose rural problems to government organizations and NGOs.
To strengthen democracy in rural areas.
To support the introduction of income-generation activities.
To inform rural people about appropriate modern technologies.
To inform rural people and exchange their ideas about improving indigenous technologies.
To raise awareness about environment conservation and sustainable development.
To expose rural people who are providing community service.
To support the development activities of women and unprivileged people.

Reference:
1)"CANVAS" vol-1,No. 2,Canvas Research Center,Betrawati, Rasuwa
2)Rasuwa Parswa Chitra-2060,District Development Committee ,Rasuwa
3) Community Radio in Nepal, Pushpa Adhikari
4)TODAY, Vol16,No.2 Apr/May1998
5) www.gaman.blogspot.com
6) www.nepalmedia.org
7) www.agaman.blogspot.com