India: An all (Dalit) women radio station
14 December 2009
Sangam Radio, an initiative of the Deccan Development Society is helping marginalised women in southern India articulate their concerns and single-handedly produce radio shows. Exclusively operated by dalit women, it focuses on various economic, social and ecological issues.
Here’s an inspiring story to counter any Monday malaise you might be feeling.
- Image credits: Mint/ Dalit women have an autonomous forum to express themselves
There’s a community radio station in Andhra Pradesh called Sangam Radio that is owned, managed, and operated exclusively by Dalit women (the Dalits are rural communities that have historically been marginalized.)
The station, broadcast everyday from 7-9 PM on 90.4 FM, is an initiative of the Deccan Development Society (DDS), a non-profit that focuses on food security, ecological agriculture, and alternate education.
The aim: to give Dalit women an autonomous forum to express themselves and articulate the issues that they face as a marginalized group. Major themes include agriculture, women’s health, utilization of natural resources and education.
“If they can’t use literacy to deal with the outside world we must give them other tools. That’s how we honed in on video and radio,” explains PV Satheesh, the director of the Deccan Development Society.
Listen to Satheesh talk about Sangam Radio, the difference it is making to Dalit women, and how the community is responding to it.
Sangam Radio won an award in the community broadcasting category of the Manthan awards, which recognize best e-content practices in South Asia.
