Community Radio Pledge (pdf) - amarc

temples, monasteries found in Kathmandu were converted into money thesame would add up to billions of rupees. But these items of heritage werecreated by forefathers who had not seen a rupee note. Now we not only talkin term of thousands and thousands of rupees but also carry out transactiontoo just as the government presents annual budget running into billions ofrupees while we wait for grant from foreign donors when it comes to preservethese structures. Why at all? The simple answer is: We have failed to makeright use of capitals present in our society.It is essential to ponder for a moment as to how our ancestors who hadnot seen a one rupee note had produced so much. That was the time whenpeople had trust on each other. One and all used to be ready whenever anyonesuggested something. Nature had given timber, boulders, clay, and water. Thosewho had the trick of the trade and skill fell trees, quarried stones, and worked onthem. Those who were strong ferried timber, boulders, and mixed the clay inwater. This was the process our ancestors followed before leaving these heritagestructures behind. The trust on each others was social capital. Trees, clay andboulders were physical capital. The knowledge, wisdom and skill which manhad been human capital. The capital cost of which is calculated in billions ofrupees was created by the use of three capitals.We have lost faith in each other along with the changing time andsituation. We have ignored the wisdom, knowledge and skill accumulatedin society. We have failed to make right use of natural resources. Thingsthat are basic resources to create financial capital. We are monotonouslychasing financial capital without mobilizing these capitals. Consequently,corruption, black marketing and smuggling are on the rise. This is pushingthe nation towards moral and physical disaster.When it comes to ensure sustainability of community radio the thingwhich is widely debated is financial capital. It is not possible to procure financialcapital looked for in impervious manner. This explains why community radiostations are in financial crisis. Community radio stations have degenerated intomere projects. This is the reason why the sustainability of community radio isnot an issue of sustainability of the project or organization. Therefore what isessential is mobilization of all the four varieties of capitals must be taken intoaccount while drawing the strategy for the community radio stations.Community broadcasters have radio and audio equipment with them.Conversely, they have the medium. This is physical capital.Communitybroadcasters have trained human resources which is human capital. Thetrust of the people in the respective area should be won over by making theright use of the physical and human capital. One must be able to mobilizethe social capital. Under this someone or the other will be ready to workvoluntarily for the community radio. The community of volunteers will beready with the consciousness to be active in becoming a partner in decisionmaking,in producing programs, in launching membership drive or when it44