The idea encompasses the need for the urbane and metropolitan youth of today to take stern steps in order to stop the recession striken economies of today to further lull with time.The emphasis lies in strengthening the core competence areas of any economy(developing in specific), of which 'agriculture' forms a major portion.Any economy which is food sufficient is the economy which will be in a position to tackle all the vices or ups and downs of the markets and yet shall be be able to pull off its economy in full swing despite all.
The key lies in making sure that all our technological achievements/advancements are 1.User friendly(or Farmer friendly) 2.Affordable to the rural masses 3.Efficient in terms of the power consumed/dissipated 4.Skill and knowledge required for the technology to suffice must be imparted to the masses before ensuring the advent of that technology in the area 5.The raw materials must be locally abundant 6.the spare parts for the machinery,etc used must be locally available.
The Youth of the nation can play a major role.We, as the future of the world,must help the rural men and women in acquiring knowledge and skills by conducting workshops,sessions,street plays,etc
All this knowledge can be imparted in a "low cost ","affordable","efficient" and "entertaining" manner via the usage of a "COMMUNITY RADIO".
Community radio is a less explored avenue for the impartment of knowledge and skill along with a fair due of entertainment to these people.A particular frequency can be slotted for this purpose.
The entire cost of setting up a radio station is Rs.6-8lakhs(Indian currency),the basic infrastructure requirement includes just a two room setup.Instead of the government,the Youth of the nation should come forward to build up on the following ideas to ensure everyone adopts a healthy lifestye,even in the rural areas.
The community radio shall help in the following manner:
1.Knowledge about languages,sanitation,health(AIDS/HIV,cancer,etc),govt. schemes for rural upliftment,global know-how,information about HYV(high yielding varieties),proper crop-rotation and its advantages.
2.Entertainment and cultural restoration.
3.Employment to the youth/men/women of the area as radio announcers,folk artists,technicians,etc
Thus,it shall act as a means of rural-social upliftment through a youth initiative,without any intervention of politics.The community radio shall be later on given to the rural society for it to run to create a source of employment for many.Thus it shall be a public property for the people, and run by the people.
A great idea, but I don't have the feeling it will work in these times. Sometimes I feel that capitalism in India came too soon. Abject poverty in rural areas should have been rooted out before opening up the market.
ReplyDeleteThis idea will work only if an entrepreneur takes it up with interest, which I somehow feel is highly unlikely, or the Government takes it up as a mainstream project. It most certainly is a brilliant idea though.