Kerala community radio makes waves

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Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Community radio may be a rage worldwide, but it is yet to hit the airwaves in the country. But in Kerala, a journalist and a software development unit are on the brink of creating what could be India’s first community radio.

Alakal FM, meant exclusively for the fishermen, provides vital information like weather conditions to the availability of a catch along with music and entertainment.

But there's a small obstacle, Alakal FM hasn’t got the green signal from the state government.

"Since it is for the benefit of the community, the government shouldn't restrict these things. It should get a license," journalist and founder of Alakal FM, Ajith said.

But help is on its way. Space, a software development unit, has decided to provide technical support to Alakal.

"We wanted to highlight what the contribution-free software can do to a small community of radio initiatives like Alakal. That's our interest in joining this programme," software engineer, Space Software Developers, Arun said.

For a nation that has a very strong fishing community, initiatives such as these could prove to be lifesavers as unpredictable weather conditions and choppy waters take a heavy toll on the fishermen.

With Alakal FM, a pioneering effort in community radio is in place. But, unless the government realises and wakes up to the realities of community radio, this will be of little help to the fishermen.