环球英语 — 186：Community Radio in Nepal

　　Voice 1

Hello. I’m Marina Santee.

Voice 2

And I’m Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight 1. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

It is late in the day. There are no street lights here in Madanpokhara. The small village lies in Tansen, Western Nepal. It is about an eight hour drive from the capital city of Kathmandu. To the visitor, it is a rough ride up the large hill. A light shines from a small house near the top. From the outside, the house does not look much different from any other. But walk inside, and it is clear that this is not a normal house. This is a community radio station! From this house, comes the voice of the local community. It is Radio Madanpokhara, one of Spotlight’s broadcasters! Today, we tell how a community radio station grew from small beginnings - and how it is a powerful tool for local development

Voice 2

Imagine you are a farmer. You live in a village away from the towns. You have a large animal - a buffalo 2. But you need to sell it. How can you tell all the people in your village? What better way than to use community radio? You pay the station a small price. They announce that the buffalo is for sale. A buyer hears the announcement. He comes and buys your buffalo. You have gained the money you needed. The buyer has gained a buffalo. And the station makes money towards its costs. Everyone wins!

Voice 1

This is one of the many ways Radio Madanpokhara serves its community. It began broadcasting in the year 2000. It used only a small transmitter for broadcasting - one hundred [100] watts 3. The radio station was in a small building - next to the station manager’s home. Sixty-five [65] members formed a trust fund 4. They each paid one thousand [1,000] rupees a year - that is about sixteen [16] US dollars. After a few years, they collected enough money for a bigger building - with a recording 5 studio. Today, the broadcasting quality is as good as the commercial FM stations in Nepal. The transmitter power is now five hundred [500] watts.

Voice 2

The official operators 6 of Radio Madanpokhara are ‘VDC’ - the Village Development Committee. VDC is part of the government. However, it is the local community that controls and manages the station. Villagers meet together with VDC members. Local people discuss their ideas. They say what they would like in the programmes. At one of the meetings the words of an old man brought great change! His story has become famous in the area.

Voice 1

It was a normal meeting. Local people gave their different ideas and suggestions. They were discussing how they could give to the station. The old man stood in the corner of the room. His name was Tuk Lal Khati. Tuk Lal rested on his stick. And he listened quietly. One of the VDC members asked Tuk Lal for his opinion. Tuk Lal replied,

Voice 3

‘The educated people have already given many suggestions. How can an old uneducated man like me give a useful suggestion?’

Voice 1

The VDC member encouraged Tuk Lal to tell his story. He told Tuk Lal of a wise old woman. Her words had changed the future of a powerful business man! This encouraged Tuk Lal. So he spoke 7:

Voice 3

‘The radio station has become our mind, heart and mouth. So we must help it any way we can - with our minds, our money, our work. However, I do not have money to give to the radio station. But I do have an idea to make money. Let every household save one handful 8 of rice from their daily supply. And then, give it to the station.’

Voice 2

The VDC member liked Tuk Lal’s suggestion. He remembered it at the next meeting of directors. Here representatives from twenty-three [23] villages came together. They also liked Tuk Lal’s idea. And they decided 9 to use it in their own villages.

Voice 1

And so, over the next few months listener groups in the different villages began collecting rice and money. They kept some for their own local plans. They sent the rest to the radio station.

Voice 2

The villager’s gifts became a large part of the radio station’s money. And they still are! The listeners’ groups have also gained from the gifts. They have expanded and strengthened the things they do. They work together to change and improve their communities. Local people feel responsible for their radio station. They influence programs and policies of the station. Through the radio station they have one voice.

Voice 1

Madanpokhara’s programmes serve the people in many ways. They spread local information - marriages, deaths, births. They give information about missing 10 children. They provide education - advice on farming, or problems such as landslides 11 and fires. There are programs on economic and social issues, conflict, human rights. And there are programmes about democracy 12, good government and women’s issues. The station is also careful to keep the traditional values of its community. For example, individuals are important. Family and community relations are important. All people deserve 13 a voice and equal rights. This includes the rich and the poor. It includes men and women. The station does not broadcast information that sells big products - such as Coca Cola drinks, or Chow Chow Noodles. Such companies may not hold the local community values.

Voice 2

Radio Madanpokhara has received awards for its positive results and good effects on the community. Gunakar Aryal is the station manager there. He is a local man from the village. Gunakar would like to see more community stations in Nepal. He says that radio Madanopokhara is a model of what community radio can do. Gunakar says that if local authorities 14 are willing, people can start such stations in all the villages of Nepal. He believes this is the way forward - communities communicating for development! Radio Madanpokhara could lead the way forward for other villages. If they follow, the results could be huge - across the whole country!

Voice 1

Do you have community radio where you live? Do the local people support it? If you would like to hear Spotlight on your community radio station, write and tell us! We may tell about your station on our programme!