The effectiveness of Sri Lankan regional radio stations in rural citizenry

Abstract

Abstract submitted and selected for e-Asia international conference.

Though the community radio movement in Sri Lanka has been losing its energy and strength, in catering the development needs of the rural community, the regional radio stations which function from various rural villages of Sri Lanka, can play an energetic role in terms of addressing the issues effecting the democratic rights of citizens – rights to know information’s that needs for their empowerment, rights to involve in decision making, rights to participate in governance, right to hold their leaders transparent and accountable and ultimately right to receive an efficient service as citizens.

The first regional radio station Rajarata, started in 1979 in parallel to the Mahaveli community radio. Since then, 8 regional Radio stations are active averagely with over 12 hours of airtime per day. When it comes to Regional radio stations, 12 hours of airtime is relatively a vast time. In Sri Lanka, 99% of the regional radio stations are governed by the Ministry of Media and Information, through Sri Lanka broadcasting corporation which is the National radio in Sri Lanka. From the initial survey it has been observed the regional radio stations play more than 94% of cinema and songs. No programmes are being produced on ICT, Education, Health, rural democracy and governance. The whole purposes of setting this regional level radio stations are keeping the community informed at the village level and give them an opportunity to engage with governance.

This is a new era for development and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. After terrorism being wiped out, enormous actions are taken place in terms of rural development. Times to time local elections are held. New development policies being implemented. In most of the public sector news people are being accommodated. Entire political system is changed and power and supreme authority is practice by very slim number of people. At this juncture, it’s very important to assess the impact of the regional radio stations, effectiveness of the their programmes in terms of maximizing the citizen participation with the process of governance , nature of listener’s behaviors, public participation, access, contents, major constrains, new community programming models used and other important aspects. This research will bring insights to the entire radio industry and the key media stakeholders in order to enrich and empower the service of regional radio stations while analyzing the major challenges.

The role of citizen journalism in promoting good governance in Sri Lanka

An Abstract submitted to e-India

Background
Citizen Journalism can help move the country towards peace. The potential of citizen journalism, however, is its ability to provide a forum for all citizens - male and female, of all ethnicities, castes, classes and religions - to express themselves freely, society will better accommodate ideas and measures that engender peace. Also it has a potential to hold the Government officials accountable and answerable to the citizens through the process of citizen journalism - Web-based public forum the government’s performance will be scrutinized and monitored. Since it’s operated by the citizen its can simply play watchdog role in attaining public involvement with governance. In Sri Lanka numbers of active citizen journalism movements are on action in terms of promoting good governance and rural democracy.
Some considerations in Sri Lanka
Though the government of Sri Lanka announced its glory and victory over the three decades of terrorism, sustainable peace, sense of democracy, strengthen process of governance are yet to be achieved. Child sexuality, displacement, violation of human rights, violence and crushing of aspirations of individual and those detained continue to occur. Some citizen media movement such as Groundview (www. groundview.org) is continuing to record above injustice crimes and create forum for public debate on the issues affecting their life. www.vilakpa.org, another active citizen media, is continues to disseminate public woes and report on the effectiveness of local government activities at the rural level.
Blogs including www.kottu.org, http://negombonews.blogspot.com/ continue to disseminate people’s views considerably with zest. Personnel of the Dambadeniya Community Radio continue to record people’s views in the voice record www.dambadeniya.org and disseminate them in the form of CD’s free of charge. Dambadeniya community Radio continuously produces stories of the activities of Kurunegala local government authorities. It also play a vital role in promoting public participation in the local decision making process.
Print website related publications like www.meepura.com demonstrate somewhat a strong stance with regard to citizen journalism and good governance. Meepura mostly involve in investigating the nature of decision taken by the government authorities. The investigative reports of the meepura have had created at the ministerial level when meepura investigate about the Gunathmaka school development budget was misused by the school development board.
At this juncture, it has very important to assess the Role of citizen media in Sri Lanka in promoting good governance. The full paper is involve in SWOT analyze current citizen media, in order to offer its proposals for the efficient move of CJ in promoting good governance and heard the citizens.

Head of SDJF bagged Annual peace award of the Colombo Rotary club – West.

Director/CEO of the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF), M C Rasmin, bagged the annual Peace Award of the Rotary Club – West recently.

He received the annual Peace Award from the current Chairmen of the Rotary Club – West, Mr. Doulat Kundan Mal. For the year 2011 Rotary club facilitates two winners. Rasmin was awarded for his contribution towards peace, reconciliation and ethnic harmony through the use of media. The first award winner was Ms. Pushpie Wijeykoon who has been working for various development and peace related organizations holding different senior positions.

Addressing the Rotarians M C Rasmin stated “I don’t agree with the fact that we have attained peace, because peace is something which cannot be achieved through weapons. To simply cultivate the sense of ethnic integrity, harmony, engagement and sustainable peace, space has to be created for the awareness of diversity and pluralistic values”.
M. C. Rasmin throughout his journalistic career has involved in enormous peace building activities. In 1998 Rasmin started his career as a sub-editor for a monthly magazine published by the Centre for Children and Youth Development (CCDY). Being a young sub-editor Rasmin has thrown in several pages to foster the values of ethnic harmony. In the same year he passed SLBC auditions to become a radio drama artist. Since then, he has been holding the position of sub-editor for a number of newspapers such as IDI, Ilavarasy, Tamil Kesary and Virakesary. With the exposure he had from these newspapers.

Rasmin made 9 publications, more than 5 novels and 6 research papers. Most of the fictions written by Rasmin reflect the context of ethnic crisis and its damages.
Being a community media activist, Rasmin has presented a number of research papers in various international conferences focusing on media pluralism, diversity and media, gender and media, community media and social development, online platform and community development etc. From 2004 to 2006 Rasmin produced a dedicated radio programme Called Adavar Arangam (platform for youth), through Sri Lanka Broadcasting cooperation where directed over 60 Radio plays focusing peace, ethnic relation and pluralistic values. In 2010 he directed a radio drama called “Though Its Paradise” a dedicated series of radio dramas focusing the issues faced by the IDPs of Sri Lanka and funded by internews Sri Lanka. In 2011 he directed a series of radio dramas (20 episodes) addressing the gender based issues of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Apart from this, Rasmin has written and produced over 250 radio dramas emphasizing the need of sustainable peace. Having assessed these contributions Rotary has awarded him.

SDJF on behalf SDJF staff extends its appreciation to Rotary Club-West.

Internet platform for community Radio is Sri lanka; Challenges and opportunities

Abstract
Internet platform has been identified by various countries including Sri Lnka as an alternative for the community rdio programmings. In most of the developing countries, the lack of policy conciousnes among the government, lack of awareness about effective programming models, lack of willingness among the government authorities to encourage civil socity empowerment through community radio and some other factor have been triggered the advent of internet community radio.

On the other hand, in countries like Sri Lanka, the level of ICT literacy, internet panitration, availability of 3G coverage, availability of access points and community willingness on ICT tool are relatively low are the challenging forces learnt in the feilf of internet community radio in reaching disadvantaged.
As far as Sri Lanka is concern, the ICT literacy rate of Sri Lanka is 16.1%, Its is 25.1% in urban sector and for the rural and estate sectors its 15.1% and 4.3% respectively. The use of desktop computer is 8.2% and its in the urban 17.8%, Rural 6.9% and estate 1.1%. According to the HHCLS the percentage of awareness about computers is only 37.1%. This obviously not siffiecent enough to carry internet community radio as the form of conventional FM community radio.

In such context, it is singnificant to think how far effect and efficient exsisting internet community radio are and what are the types of communication stretagies and models have been incorporated in order to reach those who don’t have access to the internet and what are the steps being taken by the exiting Internet to reach their programmes disadvantage community in Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, the process of taking the dividends of ICT to the rural is speed up in various areas. The Local Language department of ICTA has implemented Unicode system triligualism has become as a policy. ICT access centers such as Nenasala, Vidhatha and schoolnet are esgatablished islanwide. The use of social media among the younger generation ia become a new moment. Now the question is what are the stretagies that we can utilize to Internet based community radios in order to benefit marginalized or disadvantaged rural communities.

This paper will present some proposals in terms of maintaining strengthened internet based community radio culture in SriLanka. The views and the opinions of the operators of the excisting community radios included in this paper. Full paper can be obtained from the author by sending an email – mcrazmin@gmail.com

“MOWNATHTHIN PUNNAHAI” (A SILENT SMILE) - DESPERATE, HELPLESS VOICES OF WOMEN, FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE

The Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) has concluded its most exclusive radio initiative titled “Mownaththin Punnahai” (A silent smile). The theme is based on gender, which is designed into an innovative concept broadcast over the “Pirai FM” radio channel, located in Akkaraipattru. The programme had gained immense listeners appreciation according to feedbacks.

“Pirai FM”, Controller Mr. Basheerabdul Gaiyoom, in his comment mentioned that Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) is a great breakthrough within the five years of broadcasting history achieved through this unique Channel, “Pirai FM”. He quoted the programme reflects the genuine commitment by the broadcasters to prove that radio is a powerful medium for social development. He mentioned that Mownathin Punnahai (a silent simile) has achieved the talent of attracting the attention of the society in the Eastern Province within a short span of 10 days, comparing to other programmes which were over the “Pirai FM” channel for more than two years. The specialty of this programme is the young energetic flexible team which is directed by a personality, who has the competent to understand the bona fide reverberation and the pulse of women’s issues.

This programme comprises 20 episodes, and each episode consists of one hour duration. Each of the programme contain three compulsory segments, consisting a radio drama, interviews with Islamic Intellectuals and very worthy discussions with victims affected by domestic violence.

Mr. M.C.Rasmin, CEO/Director of Sri Lanka Development Journalist, while commenting on Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) stated, that this is an initiative entirely dedicated on gender based violence giving prominence to sufferings faced by the Muslim community located in the Eastern Province. The programme contents reflects an aspiration to the Eastern people both the Tamil and Muslim community, particularly the Muslims. The programmes are solely produced by a team with the minimum resources available and partly contributions are from veteran broadcasters, artistes and the writers.
The feedback is immense according to the SMS received daily counts to more than thousand two hundred. Apparently, the statistics shows the large amount of listening audience had turned their attention to this exclusive programme which contains sanative information’s about domestic violence. CEO made a comment that according to the feedbacks, it is much evident that the segment which comprises voices of the victims and radio dramas had to a greater extent had inspired the Eastern Province people in several ways.

LIVELINESS OF THE RADIO DRAMA HAD TRANSFORMED THE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Predominantly the radio dramas are produced to target patriarchal attitudes and the mentalities that break the gender impartiality within the family bond. The characters and the story lines are established based on key gender based issues such as isolation, beating, creating disappointments, usages of indecent language, restrictions made for women to refrain from education, creating frustrations , assigning works beyond their capacities, impairment to their dignity, hindrance from employment and enjoyments with their families, demanding dowries , forcible divorce and many more issues.
Out of the 20 radio dramas, 13 dramas were written by female writers – Silmiya Hadi, Shamila sheriff, Asmiya Begum and Naseela Adham.
The dramas consisting in the Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) programme comprised some unconventional strategies in terms of production, writing and even in story lining. Taking into attention about the story lining, a group work is involved in this task. According to the working schedule, the Sri Lanka Development Forum (SDJF) assigned two different groups to attend to the story lining. One group was directed by a male and the other group was given in charge by a female. This kind of work distribution turned out easily to assess the gender-sensitivity of the story linings. This strategy enabled SDJF to terminate 20 radio dramas, each 30 minutes duration, within 10 days with three round of group engaged in editing and reviewing.
Decisions were taken to make some changes in the writing and editing of radio dramas. Apparently, the Sri Lanka Development journalist Forum (SDJF) closely scrutinized the scripts and came to a conclusion that the script writers and the editors should follow new principles in their creations. SDJF felt that radio drama is not something to narrate stories but the characters in the stories should have life to give some valuable information to the society and make the society to come out of their dreadful traumas. The drama characters should have the potentiality to act, and their dialogues should establish emotional feelings and totally the productions should establish more reality. Radio drama is building and establishing strong characters and reflecting their emotional journey. Ultimately, showing the change within the characters.

The SDJF expected the dramas to be basically produced to create awareness among the listeners and the change of within the characters should heal and ease the listeners’ mental stress. The SDJF came to a conclusion that the characters in the drama should have the ability to perform the critical story lines written about various issues, and the audience should get engrossed to the characters and could overcome their social problems. The Journalist Forum expected the writers to briefly use the language and the dialogues should have meaningful lines without exaggerating. This instructions and advices were adopted by the Radio Drama Department of SDJF and accordingly the procedure was implemented and the dramas were redesigned and totally the scripts were written to cater the disheartened audience to have some remedy to their social problems

Out of the 20 drama scripts, 17 were reorganized according to the modern radio drama principles of the SDJF, and the drama production proved high quality, which enhanced and attracted the listening audience from the Eastern Province. Surprisingly almost all the writers accepted the changes suggested by the SDJF team.

STORY LINES
Relatively, five characters were established in all the dramas, and the main characters portray the key gender-based issues existing in the Eastern Province. Accordingly the “Manamatram” drama (changing mind), Parakkum Sirakukal (Flying feathers) were written respectively by S. Janoos and Silmiya Hadi. These dramas establish, the grievances faced by the people located in the Eastern Province especially the male gender, forcibly sending away their daughters and spouses abroad for earning, and leading a fantasy life in their homeland.
Pointing out the drama “Flying Feathers” reflects a character of a mother who had spent more of her marriage life as a domestic servant working in abroad and had only met her 15 years old son, twice during her prime life. The feedback towards this drama was enormous, as most of the listeners had sobbed after listening to this drama.
Few more dramas which had earned the appreciation of the audience are namely, “Dr.Mappillai” (Dr.Bridegroom) which is written by Mr.A L Jafeel, “Thandanai” (punishment) written by Asmiya Begum, “Vehumathy “ (Gift) written by Asmiya Begum, “Subeetcham” (prosperity ) which was written by S. Janoos and some more which had unfathomable thoughts highlighting the negative impact of the dowry system which is the mainstreamed in occurrence in the Eastern Province.
Dramas written by Silmiya, “Sayam Pona sarihaihal” (dry leaves which had faded), “Sanththathi –illa- sangathihal” (episodes without generations), Phoenix Thaai (Phoenix Mother ), Mahalai Piranthu (Born as a daughter), “Chinnachchinnak Keeralhal “ ( Minor setbacks) have reflected issues that suppress the dignity of the women and inequality in the family bond.
APPRECIATIONS
Most of the feedbacks from the male society had established their views to the SDJF monitoring and Focus-group teams, have mentioned that the radio drama and interviews with victims from the programme as a wide stimulation. According to some viewers, they feel ashamed about the way; their community treating their spouses. Some of the comments were that Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) drama had educated them, and had paved way to understand the women folks suffering due to the careless actions of men.
•Mr. Gaiyoom, the Controller of “Pirai FM” stated, that the drama and the voices of the desperate victims made him to cry. He said “when I was listening to “flying feathers” drama one day, while I was driving, I lost my concentration in my driving and I have to rush home for some relaxation”
•Mr. Husain, a shopkeeper from Ninthaoor commented that his imagination was that he was one of the characters in the Mownaththin Punnahai (A smile in silence) drama.
•Mr. Mohammed Ameer, a Principal from Poththuvil, said that “I feel like someone questioning me, when I am listening to the radio drama. Most of the time the dramas made me to think what I can do as a Principle and motivate my students to respect the gender diversity and practice the equality in lifelong”.
•Mr. Salam, a farmer from Kalmunai made a comment that he tunes the “Pirai FM” frequency to listen to the dramas, in the midst of his spouse getting amused about his action.

These are randomly selected opinions among some of the keen listeners, out of hundreds and hundreds of male listeners. The SDJF also has same amount of feedbacks from the women listeners.

PARALYZED QAZI SYSTEM
It is so remarkable that the SDJF received over hundreds of telephone calls, voices crying with several pleas. This has made the SDJF to learn that domestic violence is something that needs to be wiped-out from the society. The interviews with victims were so pathetic and out of this, over 20 interviews were so emotional. Most of the women folk have become desperate and frustrated due to the mistreatment and wrong judgments of the Quiz’s.

Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) drama concludes with a strong finding that the credibility and the reputation about the Quazi system in Sri Lanka, is becoming vague in the society, especially amongst the women society. The participated victims voiced in the programme fearlessly stated that most of the quazi’s are highly incapable of hearing to their sufferings and are favorable to the men, which the biggest shortcomings is prevailing in the society. It was so unbearable to listen, to some victims that the most honoured “Quazi” had forwarded divorce notice to the respective parties, without informing the reasons for divorce. It is so rare in some instances that the Quazi has given the verdicts without inquiries. Mownaththin Punnahai (A silent smile) ultimately concluded its last episodes by creating awareness for discussions over the paralyzed Qazi system.