Tuesday, March 14, 2006

AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE -RADIO RAGHAV

AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE -RADIO RAGHAV

From: Santosh Pandey

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 13, 2006 3:36 PM

Subject: Re: <<>> Re: Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

Dear Group Members,

Can we as a group take up this issue and support Raghav in any way???

--------------------------------------
Santosh Pandey
http://santosh-pandey.blogspot.com/

E-mail :santoshpandeyca@gmail.com
: santoshpandeyca@yahoo.co.uk
************************************************


Radio Raghav Faces Closure; Seeks Outside Help
Muzaffarpur: March 11, 2006
Raghav Kumar, the 22-year old man from Mansoorpur village in Muzaffarpur district who shot to fame a few weeks ago for broadcasting Hindi and folk songs and local news by building a FM radio station from scraps is facing legal threats that may force him to pull the plug on his dream project because of the national communication regulations.

Faced with some tough regulations, authorities in Muzaffarpur have issued notice to him for running an FM station without proper licensing. "I barely have money to treat my ailing father, how can I come up with the licensing fee," Kumar, who earns less than 2,500 per month from his electronic shop, said.

Broadcasting popular Hindi film and folk songs, local news, and public messages, the Raghav Radio has become immensely popular within 10 miles of his 'radio station' though with the notice from the district administration, he has been left with no option but to seek financial help from the government and private parties so he could legally continue to work on his radio station extending the reach to other areas outside his village.

So far he seems to be having no luck with the government but there are a few individuals in his own village who have offered him some limited financial help.

Meanwhile, PatnaDaily.Com has received a letter from an American national showing interest in Raghav's project.

Mark Titterington, an amateur radio operator in Rhode Island, is attempting to contact Raghav to offer him his expertise in fulfilling the Muzaffarpurian's dream.
====================================================================================
Hi Santosh,

Sincere thanks for raising this issue on the group.The problem is that running a radio station without govt. permission is illegal and private local radio station is banned in India.

We also have the issue of copyrights violations and for all radio transmission the broadcasting rights are needed.I'm really not sure how monetary help can bail him out of this situation.I would appreciate if other members share there view on this.

Thanks,

Ajit

www.ajitchouhan.blogspot.com
www.coolbihari.blogspot.com
www.thejobshop.blogspot.com
www.hrfundablog.blogspot.com
====================================================================================
From: Santosh Pandey

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 13, 2006 3:36 PM

Subject: Re: <<>> Re: Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

Thanks Ajit for you response,

I understand the points of having an operator`s license and copyright issues associated with this. However, posted this issue for delibration by members, as to how can we help him to save the closure.

? Can we ask the govt to issue a license to him..if yes what are the
procedural nuisances associated with that.
? How can we takle the issue of license trademark and copyright for songs
relayed from Radio Raghav.
? Is there any avenue to encourage this innovative boy Raghav..?? or we really
want to nip another talent in the bud.??

Would appreciate feedback from members..WHAT CAN WE DO???

Regards,

Santosh Pandey
http://santosh-pandey.blogspot.com/
***********************************************************************************
From: Mayank Krishna

Mailed-By: returns.groups.yahoo.com

Reply-To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 13, 2006 7:31 PM

Subject: Re: <<>> Re: Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

We can help. But the question is how???

I think, in Raghav's radio station there is an innovation that can help our country in general and Bihar in particular. It's a big innovation provided it is handled with care. The biggest beneficiary of this innovation can be in social sector and it can play a big role in uplifting the darkness of ignorance from rural folks. His innovation need not be limited to Muzaffarpur or Bihar. His innovation has the potential to reach the entire Indian villages. Here comes the role of government.

If the government of Bihar adopts Raghav's innovation and sets up similar rural radio stations across all the villages of Bihar then it can be used as an efficient tool to help spread awareness about many social issues apart from healthy entertainment. Not only that, this innovation can play a significant role in educational initiatives of the governement. Say government can put someone in charge of each station who ensures that apart from entertainment, and social messages, the radio also broadcasts primary education level modules in morning and evening so that children as well illiterate adults of the village can learn in an interesting way and remove the evils of illiteracy. This person or coordinator can not only give radio lessons but can also help village children and adults learn through human interface. The coordinator can help generate interest about primary education through interesting learning modules on radio and then back it up with learning through human interface and then reinforce it through radio creating a loop of learning. It could be a revolution in primary education. And the biggest advantage of this is CUSTOMIZATION. You can customize the contents keeping in mind local culture, tastes, preference, language etc. Of course, I am dreaming. But don't you think that if we think deeper then there are numerous possibilities for the use of this low cost innovation? Isn't it that all great things have their seed in big dreams? This may turn out to be another big dream resulting in great things.

How can we help?

We can help by trying to generate public opinion. It will be like simultaneously trying to influence the government, NGOs, Media, Business houses to generate an interest in the potential of this low cost innovation in social development. The point is if we can help the idea reach a tipping point, it can take care of itself from that stage.


How can we generate opinion?In the following ways:

1. Those of us who are alumni of management and technical institutes can try to build the opinion in their respective campuses by promoting the idea and its benefits among students as well as faculty.

2. Those of us who are in media can create a media opinion through articles and other tricks of the trade. The key is generating publicity and encouraging public discussions.

3. Those who are in private sector can promote the idea and its benefit in the corporate world by using the medium of e-mail, yahoo groups, discussion forum etc.

4. We can prepare a detailed draft on the benefits of this innovation and its potential application in social development and submit it to Government of India and well as Government of Bihar.

If we can create a frenzy about the idea by utilizing the highly networked world of today and build opinion on the potential benefits of this idea in social development then I am sure even the government can give this innovation a special status and not treat it as a radio station that will require license to function. Who knows they can even back this innovation with adequate resource allocation.

But all this will require that we take sometime out of our busy schedules to work around the ideas. Possibilities are many, the important thing is that we must dream and then think of ways to fulfill that dream.

What do you all Cool Biharis think on this?

Rgds,

Mayank

www.mayankkrishna.blogspot.com
====================================================================================
From: Ajit Chouhan

Reply-To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 14, 2006 10:05 AM

Subject: Re: <<>> Re: Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

Hey Team,

It's nice to see some ideas flowing for this cause.I think we should draw some action plan based on the discussions which we have had till now.For this we need to effectively chalk out a plan for helping this cause by promoting this at all possible levels.

Chandan,Mayank,Atul,Santosh thanks again for playing a proactive role.

Let us first use our connection and blogs to highlight the cause at national and international level.

I would request Sudhir from Bhojpuria.com to start a petition campaign on his site and also send us the links so that we can promote the same through our blogs.

Chandan and Frank can co-ordinate at local level and create awareness about this drive and initiative with help of local media and other social groups at Patna.

Atul ,Gautam ,Santosh ,Mayank and myself will try and and garner as much support as possible at technical ,legal and financial level.

Please do let me know if we can do more to help this cause.I would request other members to come forward and contribute for this .

Thanks

Ajit

www.ajitchouhan.blogspot.com
www.hrfundablog.blogspot.com
www.thejobshop.blogspot.com

====================================================================================

From: Atul Kumar

Reply-To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 13, 2006 3:51 PM

Subject: Re: <<>> Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

Hi doston

another Bihari group (biharchintan) with some senior people like Prof. Anil Gupta (from IIM-A) are working on many fronts including

a) Uday Kumar Jha, who is an advocate in Patna High to meet Raghav in helping draft appropriate legal response,

b) Rajesh an IIS is in touch with I&B officials to figure out how to help him

c) Prof. Gupta, Osama and others are planning to setup a body to take the idea commercial as a grassroot innovation

so hopefully with all the media attention and interventions of senior people Raghav should be in a good shape.

Also since am working from home today so left a message for Mark (amateur radio guy) mentioned in Patnadaily .. will update on how he can help


Cheers
Atul
Danbury, CT, USA
Atul Kumar, Danbury,CT
http://www.linkedin.com/in/atulkumar
Atul
Danbury, CT, USA
Atul Kumar, Danbury,CT
http://www.linkedin.com/in/atulkumar
***********************************************************************************
chandan singh to coolbihari

From: chandan singh

To: coolbihari@yahoogroups.co.in

Date: Mar 13, 2006 3:54 PM

Subject: Re: <<>> Radio Raghav Faces Closure- Can we help??

Hi Santosh,

I am following Raghav's story very keenly. It is something that we can take pride in, a genuine case of ingenious innovation.

I have had the opportunity to do the same in my engineering collage and lately, in Patna.

In the collage, some idiot complained about it and the cops came to our hostel, took me to Manas Gangotri police station, made me write a bond that I would not indulge in such"gimmickry" again. That was the end of Mysore FM station.

I had been using it in Patna ,on and off, but not any longer. Instead I am working on radio collars for wildlife monitoring.

Actually, operating a radio broadcasting station without a licence from P & T department is illegal. In India a fixed frequency range is reserved for commercial radio stations(FM broadcasting).And close to that range is the frequency bandwidth reserved for Government communications( Railways,Police etc). There are other issues too, like interference with TV sound signals, cable TV transmission etc.

So, basically, he needs to apply for a licence.

However, considering that no one has complained so far against him, and again hoping that some overzealous cop doesn't ask him to shut it down, I can give him my FM broadcasting kit. Its pretty powerful and really a very nice kit.I can also help him with design of Yagi antennae. This kit, when used with Yagi antennae easily gives a range exceeding 50 KM. Needless to say, I wont be charging anything for it.

But, you have to understand, that this is illegal.

Apart from this, I cant help much. And I really do feel bad about it.

Cheers,

Chandan Singh
Executive Director
GreenPower India

+91-93341-51763
+91-99349-82877
=====================================================================================

No comments: