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Photos| Mewat Radio: Revolutionizing India’s most backward regions

A village tucked deep in the heart of Mewat, one of the country’s most backward regions and home to the ethnic Meo-Muslim community, where having a television at home is looked down upon, what with religious beliefs. But on the other hand Radio has become a powerful platform for villagers, which is why it is the headquarters of Alfaz-e-Mewat (Voices of Mewat), FM 107.8, one of the country’s most famous community radios. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on: Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM IST

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A village tucked deep in the heart of Mewat, one of the country’s most backward regions and home to the ethnic Meo-Muslim community, where having a television at home is looked down upon, what with religious beliefs. But on the other hand Radio has become a powerful platform for villagers, which is why it is the headquarters of Alfaz-e-Mewat (Voices of Mewat), FM 107.8, one of the country’s most famous community radios. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

A village tucked deep in the heart of Mewat, one of the country’s most backward regions and home to the ethnic Meo-Muslim community, where having a television at home is looked down upon, what with religious beliefs. But on the other hand Radio has become a powerful platform for villagers, which is why it is the headquarters of Alfaz-e-Mewat (Voices of Mewat), FM 107.8, one of the country’s most famous community radios. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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Radio has become a powerful mean for villagers to demand their rights and for accessing public services in a region. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

Radio has become a powerful mean for villagers to demand their rights and for accessing public services in a region. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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Alfaz-e-Mewat’s sound-proof, air-conditioned studio sees a steady stream of villagers, officials and artists who come to record a wide range of programmes. The 13-hour radio broadcasts reach 225 villages in the region. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

Alfaz-e-Mewat’s sound-proof, air-conditioned studio sees a steady stream of villagers, officials and artists who come to record a wide range of programmes. The 13-hour radio broadcasts reach 225 villages in the region. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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The broadcasting room has mikes, mixer consoles, computers, amplifier, transmitter, etc. On the wall, there is hand-written programme chart and a few inspiring messages by the staff. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

The broadcasting room has mikes, mixer consoles, computers, amplifier, transmitter, etc. On the wall, there is hand-written programme chart and a few inspiring messages by the staff. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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Anuradha, who lives in a nearby village, is a radio jockey and a reporter who covers women and health issues for the community radio; Mufeed Khan, a local, covers agriculture; Sohrab Khan is in charge of the station and handles the equipment and hosts a popular a Gaon ki Baat; Shakir Hussain presents a programme called Hum se Hai Shashan, and Fakat Hussain hosts Tere Mere Man Ki Baat—a programme that involves answering questions and responding to the feedback of the listeners. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

Anuradha, who lives in a nearby village, is a radio jockey and a reporter who covers women and health issues for the community radio; Mufeed Khan, a local, covers agriculture; Sohrab Khan is in charge of the station and handles the equipment and hosts a popular a Gaon ki Baat; Shakir Hussain presents a programme called Hum se Hai Shashan, and Fakat Hussain hosts Tere Mere Man Ki Baat—a programme that involves answering questions and responding to the feedback of the listeners. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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The reporters act as a bridge between the authorities and the locals, invites them to the studio to answer questions about various governance issues. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

The reporters act as a bridge between the authorities and the locals, invites them to the studio to answer questions about various governance issues. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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The reporter and presenters, mostly local youth, have countless stories to tell about the frustrations and aspirations of the people of Mewat. They had no previous experience or background in the media. They got a six-month training from Sehgal Foundation. ‘In my village of 250 families, only one house has a television. So, you can understand how important our role is as reporters in this region,’ says Sohrab, who belongs to the Meo community and lives in Notki village, two km from the radio station. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

The reporter and presenters, mostly local youth, have countless stories to tell about the frustrations and aspirations of the people of Mewat. They had no previous experience or background in the media. They got a six-month training from Sehgal Foundation. ‘In my village of 250 families, only one house has a television. So, you can understand how important our role is as reporters in this region,’ says Sohrab, who belongs to the Meo community and lives in Notki village, two km from the radio station. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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The station receives about 50 calls every day, and many from women. Mubina says that most women complain of being overworked and talk about many health-related problems. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

The station receives about 50 calls every day, and many from women. Mubina says that most women complain of being overworked and talk about many health-related problems. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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In many villages, women have formed self-help groups in the absence of formal credit institutions—they come together and pool their savings to form a large corpus for individual and group help. Shakina feels the station will be more effective in connecting with the community if it also distributes radio sets. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

In many villages, women have formed self-help groups in the absence of formal credit institutions—they come together and pool their savings to form a large corpus for individual and group help. Shakina feels the station will be more effective in connecting with the community if it also distributes radio sets. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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Gaon ki Chaupal, Sehat Ka Pegam and Kisse Kahani, featuring folk musicians of the Mirasi community whose songs valorise the history of the region, are the most popular programmes. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

Gaon ki Chaupal, Sehat Ka Pegam and Kisse Kahani, featuring folk musicians of the Mirasi community whose songs valorise the history of the region, are the most popular programmes. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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‘Mewat has become a definition of backwardness and governmental apathy. We get electricity for two hours and depend on tankers for potable water’, says Hazi Ismail, a local. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

‘Mewat has become a definition of backwardness and governmental apathy. We get electricity for two hours and depend on tankers for potable water’, says Hazi Ismail, a local. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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Reporting in Mewat is not always easy. Mufeed Khan a local reporter says it is next to impossible to report on issues relates to family planning. ‘People feel it is not necessary, what with their religious beliefs,’he says. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Sep 03, 2017 9:28 PM

Reporting in Mewat is not always easy. Mufeed Khan a local reporter says it is next to impossible to report on issues relates to family planning. ‘People feel it is not necessary, what with their religious beliefs,’he says. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

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