Stories from the hills

Radio's role has never been more vital.

The World Bank estimates that 67.97% of India's population lives in rural areas; 350 million are illiterate; 250 million live below the poverty line, and poor rural infrastructure abounds. People's P.ow.e.r Collective {PPC}, believes that radio's inclusivity and accessibility makes it the best connective tissue, in such a context.

From “No Women Participation” to “Women Voicing their Opinions in Panchayat Meetings”

There was a time, just as recent as 2014, when Panchayat meetings in Bhanaj village of Rudraprayag district were totally male dominated and it witnessed zero women participation because women were meant to stay confined within their kitchens. Now that Mandakini Ki Aawaz 90.8 Fm is broadcasting womens’ issues on a regular basis, women in Bhanaj have started to speak up and they have started attending Panchayat Meetings in good numbers and they also make sure to get their suggestions and opinions heard. Poonam Rawat Negi (Head of Communications at MKA 90.8Fm) observes that the radio programming around womens’ issues had a huge impact on women of her community. She feels empowered that she was a part of this change making process within her community. .

Sulochana Devi is Mandakini Valley’s new Hero

Sulochanadevi became a widow at the age of 16, thereafter she adopted a child who unfortunately passed away in 7 months. Since then Sulochanadevi is living alone and has dedicated her life to spirituality and community welfare. She started listening to MKA 90.8Fm since 2014 and has become an avid listener ever since then. She has become an active participant at MKA and in her personal capacity she educates people about whatever she listens on the radio. The use of cloth bags was being promoted under the waste management campaign which was being conducted on MKA 90.8Fm in collaboration with Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre from January 2019 to April 2019. Sulochana Devi herself stitched and distributed cloth bags to school students of Chaka village. Also she motivated school students to dig a pit for disposing plastic waste in the school compound. We broadcasted her story on the radio and the next day everyone across 350 villages is talking about Sulochana Devi. She became a hero overnight and thousands in the community got inspired by her.

Devilal Bharti: fighting the odds

यह शब्द मेरी मन मे बार - बार टहलती रही - क्या एक साम्युदयिक रेडियो स्टेशन स्थापित करना संभव भी था? […] मैं ठहरा अप्नी परिवार का इकलौता कमानेवाला| शायद मुझे अप्ने परिवार पर ही ध्यान देना चाहिए | मैं बहुत परेशान था | लेकिन, एक दिन , मुझे किसी से मुलाकात हुई, जिसने मुझे अप्नी आत्मविश्वास वापस दे दी| मैंने उसे हमारी रेडियो स्थापित करने कि योजना बताई| असणे हँसकर कहा, 'क्या तुम्हे नहीं पता? इन सब रेडियो स्टेशन मे सिर्फ बड़े -बड़े घर के लोग काम करते हैं|' तभी मैंने निर्णय लिया: में ये करके दिखाऊंगा। चाहे जितना भी कठिन हो|
" {"The words would swirl in my mind, over and over again - was it even possible for us to set up a community radio station? [...] I am the sole breadwinner in my family; often I'd think: maybe I should forget about serving the community, and just focus on my family. I was a very troubled man. But, one day, I met someone who gave me the confidence I needed, to continue with both. I told him about my plans to start a community radio station; he laughed at me, and said: 'Don't you know that only people from upper-class families work in such radio stations?' That's when I made up mind: I would set up a community radio station, no matter how difficult the journey."}

Uma Negi: from shy housewife to radio presenter

पहले तो दो लोगों के आगे बात करने की हिम्मत नहीं थी | मेरी दुनिया घर तक ही सीमित थी | घर का काम करती, पर उसमे वो ख़ुशी नहीं मिलती जो मुझे यहां आकर महसूस हुआ
Earlier, I never had the courage to speak to people. My world was limited to the four walls of my home. My time was spent in household chores, but I never experienced the happiness that I have felt, since I started working with the radio station."}