The Voices of the Unheard: In age of social media, community radio stations are conversing with those living on the fringes - Part 3

“In India there are around 857 TV channels and 837 radio stations playing in different cities. But how many of them cover issues, events, achievements, tortures, schemes, facilities, laws, etc, pertaining to the disabled community? How many of them talk about the sexual abuse faced by visually impaired girls or women and the domestic violence they are subject to, or about non-availability of proper opportunities for the disabled?,” asks Danish Mahajan, general secretary of Radio Udaan, where all the radio jockeys work voluntarily and 90% of them are visually impaired. Radio Udaan is an internet community radio station launched in 2014 by six founding members from all over the country under Udaan Empowerment Trust with the goal to bring persons with disabilities on one platform to highlight their opinions and talents. It has come to represent the lives of countless visually impaired Indians in its short stint of five years.

The internet community radio that covers more than 120 countries and caters to more than 30,000 listeners every month follows the motto of providing information wrapped in entertainment through programmes specially designed by jockeys. “We talk about the policies related to the disabled and disability, which are applicable all over the world. Even though their focus is India-based, they also talk about the international policies to compare accessibility conditions, among other things, with that of abroad,” says Mahajan. When Radio Udaan saw there is not much representation of the visually impaired in radio and, most importantly, most of them are unaware about the government schemes meant for them, programme planners decided to create experiences that engage, inform, educate and entertain such people in a dignified way.

Radio Udaan has audience in more than 120 countries and its monthly listener statistics shuttle between 20,000 and 30,000. Through this platform, the radio station is creating awareness among people about the policies of the government, their rights and latest schemes. Accessible India is one such programme that brings every such matter to the fore. Udaan celebrates every occasion — Diwali, Eid, Rakshabandhan, Independence Day — by conducting live shows. It streams live matches, tournaments, events, seminars, talk shows on elections and much more.

The radio station invites government leaders, heads of associations and presidents of different organisations to discuss latest policies, development programmes and ideas with people at large. “We hold question and answer sessions that witness active participation from our listeners. Our audience benefits from these sessions with latest inputs from the people who matter,” says the general secretary. Udaan also holds on-air training classes to provide learning opportunities to their listeners. “To date, more than 10,000 people have learnt basics of computer and software like skype and drop box with our assistance. Interesting educational shows on maths, English, and general knowledge also constitute enriching episodes of our on-air content,” he says.

The short-term training sessions of Radio Udaan were quite popular with the disabled. “Technology plays a vital role in the life of a disabled person. To enhance the technological skills of a disabled and make her aware about latest technologies available, Radio Udaan organised short-term training sessions in different parts of the country with the support of National Institute For Empowerment Of Visually Disabled (NIEPVD), Dehradun,” says Mahajan. The radio station has organised three one-day talk sessions on POCSO Act and Right to Education in Delhi and Mumbai. Though romance and marriage are a little difficult for the visually impaired, Radio Udaan is trying its best to build matrimonial alliance and find proper matches for them through their shows. It even holds meets for the purpose in Delhi and Bengaluru. So far, many people have found their matches with its help and have successful marriages.

“Udaan arranges assisted tourism for the visually challenged to different places of importance. We have conducted trips to Delhi Zoo and India Gate, Wagah Border and Golden Temple, Dhola-ri-Dhani, a miniature Rajasthani village in Hyderabad, and Mumbai,” adds Mahajan. The community radio launched Udaan Idol (a musical talent show for adults) and Udaan Idol Little Champ (for children) in 2017-18 to promote and nurture their talents. The radio station, reportedly, doesn’t get any funding from the government or the private sector and organisers are spending from their own pockets to run it.

“All the RJs are working for the community and they readily contribute for every project of ours. Our motivation is our aim to serve the visually impaired people and change their situation in our country,” says Mahajan. However, Udaan Idol and Udaan Idol Little Champs get some sponsors. But, the radio station is not getting any assistance to meet the charges of web, studio hosting of shows and travelling expenses. “We are not getting any kind of financial help from anywhere,” Mahajan laments.

Radio Udaan is an internet-based radio station and everything happens online. “We use internet for each and everything. WhatsApp and YouTube are our best friends as they help us expand. Yes, sometimes due to bad internet connectivity we fail to air some shows, but as far as WhatsApp and YouTube are concerned, we use them to make each and everyone know about us and our shows,” says Mahajan. Radio Udaan has lined up various new projects and despite the financial crunches, it is pursuing them. The organisers are planning to open a school for disabled kids and also want to have an offline studio. “We are have many projects in mind. We want to hold more competitions like the Udaan Idol and matrimonial meets. There are several problems also and we are working on them,” says Mahajan.