Network
Grameen Radio
Arindam Mukherjee Arindam Mukherjee 31 Mar, 2011
From Gurgaon ki Awaz to Tashi Delek Radio, an Indian engineer’s software is transforming Indian community radio.
From Gurgaon ki Awaz to Tashi Delek Radio in Dharamshala, an Indian engineer’s software is transforming the face of community radio in India. Aaditeshwar Seth, a 29-year-old IIT Kanpur grad, and a couple of his buddies put their brains together to devise a software called Grins (Grameen Radio Internetworking System) that airs community-based radio programmes across 14 radio stations in different corners of the country.
In Madhya Pradesh, listeners of Radio Bundelkhand use the mechanism to discuss local projects and air it for the youth for job opportunities. Listeners of Kumaon Vaani in Mukteshwar, through their reports of delayed and lower rural employment wages, forced the village sarpanch (headman) to look into the matter and correct it. The day’s not far, Seth says, when “a villager can instantaneously report instances of corruption on live radio.”
Grins is an open-source software, which means it is free and can be enhanced through customisation. It functions as a disc jockey, archivist and a secretary, all at one time. It automatically records radio broadcasts, and can easily sort radio content in a matter of seconds. Seth’s initiative Gram Vaani charges Rs 55,000 for the black boxes, which includes a mark-up, although stations have the option of buying hardware on their own and installing Grins.
The next step, says Seth, is to devise an application that would be like a ‘voice Facebook’ for local radio stations that would enable even not-so literate users to listen, record and respond to voice SMSes. A caller dials a number and leaves a message, and other callers can dial the number and listen to the message as well as leave messages of their own, creating a question-answer forum.
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