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Freedom of Marginal Voices:Analysing Future Challenges and Sustainability of Community Radio in India


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1 Department of Sociology, Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, Maharashtra-413006, India
     

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The logic for community radio (henceforth CR) in India is strong on constitutional, societal, cultural and developmental perspective. Freedom of expression and voice are considered as fundamental prerequisite for human development. India has a long tradition of exclusion of voicelessness. This article aims to address i) the inclusive communicative avenues created by CR’s for the historically excluded masses and their developmental issues precisely ii) what are the future challenges and intricate issues of sustainability of CR’s in Indian media landscape. Based on media ethnographic approach this study analyses the problem under investigation by locating voice poverty as a focal theoretical framework. The study concludes that CR’s are opening up new avenues for the large group of masses whose voices are historically muted to voice their own concerns inclusively. However, the article also explores certain crucial future challenges that are helpful in recognizing early caution for constructing inclusive strategies for the sustainability of CR in India and as well across the world.

Keywords

Community Radio, Voice Poverty, Future Challenges, Sustainability, India.
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  • Freedom of Marginal Voices:Analysing Future Challenges and Sustainability of Community Radio in India

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Authors

Dhanraj A. Patil
Department of Sociology, Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, Maharashtra-413006, India

Abstract


The logic for community radio (henceforth CR) in India is strong on constitutional, societal, cultural and developmental perspective. Freedom of expression and voice are considered as fundamental prerequisite for human development. India has a long tradition of exclusion of voicelessness. This article aims to address i) the inclusive communicative avenues created by CR’s for the historically excluded masses and their developmental issues precisely ii) what are the future challenges and intricate issues of sustainability of CR’s in Indian media landscape. Based on media ethnographic approach this study analyses the problem under investigation by locating voice poverty as a focal theoretical framework. The study concludes that CR’s are opening up new avenues for the large group of masses whose voices are historically muted to voice their own concerns inclusively. However, the article also explores certain crucial future challenges that are helpful in recognizing early caution for constructing inclusive strategies for the sustainability of CR in India and as well across the world.

Keywords


Community Radio, Voice Poverty, Future Challenges, Sustainability, India.

References