Rights corner
Right to Information
Good governance and the village broadcasting system
AHM Bazlur Rahman
Good governance is the most conversant among the development issues that being discussed in Bangladesh now. Not only the government departments, all the non-government lobbies also are being prepared to face out the challenges of development in the 21st century. Broadcasting, free flowing and exchanging of information is very important in establishing good governance because in a closed and hidden environment no transparency, accountability and or participation is possible. Hence village broadcasting can play a great role to ensure good governance.
Existing broadcasting system and people in rural area
In the existing broadcasting system there are some government patronized institutions like Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Radio Bangladesh and on the other hand, Channel I, ATN Bangla, NTV Radio Metrowave, VOA and BBC FM that are patronized by non-government bodies. If we assess the broadcast programs we may realize how these programs satisfy the demands or desires of the rural people. The level of choice and the level of feedback are very important factor in relation to the access of rural people in information. Unfortunately the media monitoring system in our country is very poor. There is no statistical information about the participation of the rural people in media. The rural people are virtually looked over from the sector of production, decision-making and planning level in the name of participation. It is to say that, a decentralized broadcasting management is necessary to ensure the participation of the entire rural population in the central broadcasting. Because so nearer to the rural people the broadcasting media would be established so much access and participation would be ensured. For an example, the Government of Sri Lanka has established successfully an entire rural participation and access in Kothmale and Mohavelly. People are making both programs and decisions in full-fledged there. The central broadcasting authority hardly interferes them except only the central news broadcasting. The villagers are having the necessary information about agricultural management, current and new technologies, insect controlling management in agriculture, diseases and market prices through the radio there.
Due to the lack of central broadcasting system, the contents of the programs can not satisfy the daily needs of the villagers in our country. We should go for the village broadcasting system as soon as possible by assessing what impacts of the programs are there on the villagers for whom these are produced in the finance some vested interest people.
Now we may discuss on how print media influences the village livelihood. The strength of the print media in our country is that they are now able to publish news in free and independent environment. But the weakness is that the literacy of the population is only 40.3 now, as a result the 60 percent of the population are not able to participate in this media. Besides, due to the developed technology a great deal of changes comes to the printing media day by day but along with this the price of the newspapers is increasing, therefore, it is difficult for the villagers to buy it. As the result, it fails to make an appeal to the extensive illiterate people of villages. Besides, while the owners of the newspapers are not in the same class and moreover due to the economic interest they are not ready to fix the price within the effort of the rural population though it is possible. What impact comes by the central broadcasting system or the print media may a matter of research but it is clear that in view of present days these media are not capable of playing an effective role.
Villagers can not read newspapers due to the illiteracy and besides, literate villagers can not read newspapers due to the high price, therefore, village broadcasting especially Radio and TV can influence the illiterate people very much effectively. But due to the centralized broadcasting system people are deprived of that opportunity. Community radio and television can strengthen village broadcasting and it indicates an open and free flowing of information in the free and independent society, which is very important for establishing good governance. The central broadcasting system is government or individual ownership centered and the impact and control of these deprives people especially the illiterates from the information about the ill deeds of the government and the national or international profit seekers.
Village Broadcasting is recent in our country. Generally it runs for people's interest as it is corresponded by the people come from various professions and classes. Here are some recommendations for the village broadcasting system:
1. To establish broadcasting centers at the rural level by the government initiative. It would be village radio or village television so that peoples around 30-50 miles may enjoy the broadcast programs.
2. To make opportunity to promote community radio and television at the rural level by non-government initiative.
3. To compose village broadcasting guideline but it would not be profit making. Community broadcasting would be facilitated on the basis of neither profit making nor loosing concern.
At the end we want to say that, good governance actually indicates the environment in which people may have all the information continuously from the government or non-government sources. Good governance and transparency is in the same way where no expenditure needs for per hour. The quick implementation of the two is possible only in the political well wishing. In the village broadcasting system community radio and television may facilitate the government regarding non-government information to the people regularly as well as the people may express their opinion and point of view through it.
Therefore, the village broadcasting may play the effective role to ensure this both way information flowing by which it will supportl to achieve the good governance, desired economic, social and political concerns.
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Source: BNNRC
