January 20, 2013, Kathmandu. Community broadcasters and community
media advocates of South Asia have called for legislative reform and
equitable distribution of spectrum for the growth of community radio
along with frequency reservation for community radios in the sub-region.
These and other recommendations were articulated at the South Asian
Seminar on Community Broadcasting - Voices for Change and Peace: Taking
Stock of Community Radio in South Asia, held from 17-18 January 2013 in
New Delhi, India.
The seminar has issued a number of recommendations including not
limiting community broadcasting to any one band in the spectrum or any
one technology platform and de-licensing of low power community
broadcasting. Addressing sustainability of community radios at
grassroots, the seminar has recommended setting up of community radio
fund and bridging of resources at regional levels including through
existing platforms such as the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation, SAARC. In view of the capacity building of the sector, the
seminar recommended developing of training consortia and sharing of
training capacities in the region while ensuring equitable benefit to
women and the marginalized.
The seminar was organized by the Asia Pacific Chapter of World
Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC, in partnership with
the UNESCO Chair on Community Media, Community Radio Forum of India and
Indian Academy for Self Employed Women, and was supported by UNESCO and
International Media Support. It was attended by community radio
broadcasting leaders, community media advocates, policy makers,
representatives of civil society groups, academics, and media activists
from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The seminar addressed concerns emanating from the community radio sector such as restrictive policy frameworks, inadequate allocation of spectrum for communities, and the lack of a sustainable support system as well as democratization of media spaces in South Asia. Discussions in the seminar also focused on apprehensions over security arising out of the activities of a variety of non-state actors in South Asia leading to a somewhat hesitant opening up of airwaves in certain areas. The seminar took stock of South Asian experiences with community radio, including the strong potential of the medium for social change and promotion of peace in the region. Key note speeches and presentations by participants of the seminar along with photographs will be available shortly at http://ap.amarc.org/node/53.
The seminar addressed concerns emanating from the community radio sector such as restrictive policy frameworks, inadequate allocation of spectrum for communities, and the lack of a sustainable support system as well as democratization of media spaces in South Asia. Discussions in the seminar also focused on apprehensions over security arising out of the activities of a variety of non-state actors in South Asia leading to a somewhat hesitant opening up of airwaves in certain areas. The seminar took stock of South Asian experiences with community radio, including the strong potential of the medium for social change and promotion of peace in the region. Key note speeches and presentations by participants of the seminar along with photographs will be available shortly at http://ap.amarc.org/node/53.
(Source : World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters)
No comments:
Post a Comment