Should FM Radio be forced to broadcast centrally made news or programs ?

By Rudra Pangeni
FM radios have to depend on few networking institutions for few highly qualitative and prime time programs. An interaction program on the topic “impact of centre on local radio: Practice and experience of Radio networking” hold by Martin Chautari in association with Alliance for Social Dialogue (ASD). The discussion was followed by the paper presentation of the four community FM Radios from Radio Janakpur, Sunklaphanta FM, Radio Rupakot, Radio Palung. All of them broadcast more or less networking news or programs from the Kathmandu.
Sheetal shah, the Station manager of Radio Janakpur said the listeners have less attention to the networking programs because of language and grass root people do not have any concern to such networked programs too.
Whereas Dhirendra Sinal, the station manager of Sunklaphant F M claims that the concern of local people about center is fulfilled by networked programs like BBC Nepali Sewa, Kayakairan and Nepal Darpan. But also the programs of Antenna Foundation and Equal Access are highly qualitative and good programs they have become good ingredients to the whole broadcastings. Local producers are learning to produce better programs but the quality of local programs are less effective than the programs from the center. He further said just 33% programs they have taken from the center. Others are locally made. The programs from the networking has also helped to make a little lump of budget to the total budget of the FM.
Manohar Dhakal, the station manager of Palung FM focused on the importance of FM in the community where majority of people are farmers. The programs of Palung has not only empowered farmers but also women empowerment. Children’s programs, and other local language programs are other remarkable things of this FM. He added that few networked programs have not only informed about center but also got financial support for the FM stations.
Radio Rupakot stands a unique FM. The share is distributed to all the common people ie farmers, local teachers, local business people etc. Both news and other programs are fully prepared by the local people. Its structure of the committee and members are nomitated democratically. Deepak Thapa, the station maager claimed that all the programs are on the basis of local value. The local advertisement of the people which is for common purpose are played at lower cost and others are differently charged. The BBC Nepali service is only one networking news because many people in the locality have concern to their kiths and kins in British. Just five people are fulltimers and paid but rest of all are volunteers. According to him many programs are made by volunteer students or other volunteers from different walks of life.
The discussion helped to come up with the ideas that the local purpose and programs must be broadcasted at the local time. Centrally made programs does not make any sense to the need of the locality. Many experts asserted the state should have notified the condition of networking and the spirit of FM must not be hindered by the networking in the name of moneymaking business. The state should have strategic plan for the management of the FM.