Role of Radio in Rural Development With Special Reference to North East

Abstract

Radio is an effective medium in building a democratic society wherein every individual finds a space for himself and his society. As an effective medium of communication radio in a country like India where half of the population is illiterate and living in villages and remote areas is indispensible even in the era of satellite communication and information technology in order to aware and educate the people about health and hygiene, education, socio-economic empowerment and agriculture as well as rural development due to its extensive reach, effectiveness, popularity and acceptability. The use of radio in India specially in the rural setting is well accepted and well needed right from the beginning for obvious reasons like costs considerations, non-availability of electricity, poor transportation, high rate of illiteracy and indigenous nature of the programme. Radio has many advantages which makes it a popular medium for the people. Being an audio medium, radio reaches among rural people through receiving sets while crossing the barrier of illiteracy which makes it a popular mass medium to meet their information, education and entertainment needs through radio. According to Ramula ‘rural development’ means not only a process of realizing certain goals or values such as improved health, housing, communication, transportation and better nutrition but also a qualitative change in the socio-economic and political spheres in the direction set by the authoritative decision makers. It is a process of change that in political and physical structures as well as the value system and way of life of the people. The focus of this study has been investigated to examine the role of radio in rural development with special reference to North East India in the present scenario of information era.