Hybrid technologies emerge winners in Nepal

According to this author, "In the context of information and communication technologies (ICTs)...there are old, new and hybrid ICTs and it so seems that in the developing countries the hybrid emerges the winner." To support that claim, Kishor Pradhan explores one "hybrid" success story: Radio Madanpokhara (RM), a community radio station that has been helping "the voice of the community" find an outlet in rural Nepal since 2000. Pradhan classifies this station as a hybrid because, in the past few years, RM has been bolstering its traditional analogue production and broadcasting capacity with digital technology in the form of computers and digital recording and editing hardware and software.

Pradhan details this transformation. With a 100-watt transmitter, the studio was initially located in a small space adjoining the cowshed of the station manager. Initial technical support was provided by UNESCO and Radio Sagarmatha; a trust fund of 65 members each paid an annual membership fee of Rs 1,000 (approx. US$20). In few years, RM had collected Rs 400,000 (approx. US$8,000). Besides the annual membership fee, the running cost for RM is met by annual contributions from their development budget by the Madanpokhara Village Development Committee (VDC), which officially owns it, and Palpa-Tansen District Development Committee. It also earns a small revenue from selected advertisements and sponsorships - not to sell products like Coca-cola but, rather, to announce births and deaths, and to pass on requests on the part of community members (who pay a small fee for this service).

Based on these sources of support, in 2003 RM was able to construct its own building with a modern studio and a 500-watt transmitting capacity. RM broadcasts to many parts of Palpa and some parts of 7 adjoining districts, reaching around 400,000 people. As of this writing, RM broadcasts for an average of 8 hours per day. Pradhan claims that "It is more popular than the state-owned Radio Nepal that does not have much space for local communities to voice themselves".

The author explains that the station is community-based, through and through. "We not only select commercials, but also what songs we play", says Gunakar Aryal, a local resident of Madanpokhara, and the station manager of RM. In Pradhan's words, "He emphasises on how the radio as an ICT tool can be used carefully to retain the traditional values of a village, be it social, cultural or economic". RM also relies on local human resources. Volunteers from Radio Sagarmatha initially trained representatives from 20 VDCs and one municipality as reporters and producers; a few of these station staff members receive small remunerations. In addition, 11 volunteers from the local area work began in 2000 as unpaid volunteers; according to this article, the number of volunteer trainers and reporters has increased significantly since then. The community focus is evident when it comes to content, too. Programmes are centred on topics that affect the everyday life of the local community, such as programmes on natural disasters, farming, and disadvantaged sections of the community, as well as traditional songs and music. A number of women volunteers produce and present programmes, some of which focus on children's issues and gender.

RM is a member of the FM Radio Network Project initiated by Panos's South Asia Regional Office, with technical and grant support from Media Development Loan Fund (Prague, Czech Republic) and a local media organisation called Communications Corner. Under that project, in January 2004 RM upgraded its digital capacity to wireless satellite technology for distributing and receiving audio data and files through satellite audio channels. RM has been equipped with satellite receiving system like encoders, decoders, and radio modems and it now receives news and other development content programmes from the central hub of the network based in Kathmandu every day through a satellite. It also distributes its programmes to other member radio stations through the same satellite audio channel.

This article concludes with some reflections on trends in "hybrid friendly policies". The author claims that, since the liberalisation and promulgation of ICT policies after the restoration of democracy in Nepal, there has been growth in the number of private radio FM stations. Pradhar indicates that "The current private radio policy that includes the licensing fees (for radio modems, satellite links) and code of conduct however does not differentiate between commercial and community radios. As commercial radios have commercial investments and they relatively earn also likewise, a common regulation does not portend well for the non-profit people focused community radios like the Radio Madanpokhara."

Click here for the full article on the One World South Asia website.