GS-2nd Paper
Topics Covered- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Community Radio Stations
Context
118 new Community Radio Stations are to be set-up.
About Community Radio Stations
- Community radio is a type of radio service that caters to the interests of a certain area, broadcasting content that is popular to a local audience.
- These are small (low power) FM radio stations with a coverage area of around 10-15 Km radius, depending on the geography of the area.
- Presently, there are more than 180 community radio stations across India, broadcasting in languages like Bundelkhandi, Garhwali, Awadhi and Santhali — tongues that typically find little or no space on television.
Applications of Community Radio Stations (CRS)
- Community Radio Stations act as essential communication channels for enhancing last mile of outreach of government.
- CRS play a significant role in dissemination of agriculture related information, government schemes for people’s welfare, weather forecast etc.
- Plans are underway to ensure expansion of the community radio network to each district of the country.
Aims
The Community Radio Support Scheme aims to achieve following objectives-
- To strengthen new and existing CR Stations with resources, capacity and technology so that they could provide access and voice to marginalized communities.
- To promote growth of CRS, especially in remote and rural areas, so that people living in these areas could have access to a meaningful medium of broadcast
- To promote socio-economic and cultural development of communities as CRS is a powerful medium for social mobilization
Who can apply for a Community Radio Station?
As per the 2006 policy of the Government, followings are the desired condition for an organisation to operate a Community Radio Station (CRS)-
- The Community Radio Station should serve a specific well-defined local community.
- It should be a ‘non-profit’ organisation and must have at least three years of service experience to the local community.
- The ownership and management structure should reflect the community which it serves.
- It should only broadcast programmes that cater to the educational, developmental, social and cultural needs of the community.
- The organization must be a Legal Entity. It should be registered (under the registration of Societies Act or any other such act relevant to the purpose).
Challenges against CRS
- Community Radio Stations are facing lack of journalistic and technical skills.
- The adequate technological and journalistic trainings are required to work CRS properly.
- Community Radio Stations require right attitude, skills and equipment for its strength and popularity.
- The lack of management skills, as well as some knowledge of financial management and income generation, is biggest hurdles for Community Radio to operate.
- Community Radio Stations are small and often situated in locations where basic services, like a constant supply of electricity, are lacking.
- Due to these conditions equipment suffers and needs to be vigorously maintained and/or regularly replaced.
- There is also an absence of a clear regulatory framework in which Community Radio operates.
Way forward
- To work CRS effectively the community participation is essential.
- For this at least 50% of content shall be generated with the participation of the local community, for which the station has been set up.
- Programmes should preferably be in the local language and dialect(s).
- The CRS license thus given by the government entitled them to operate a 100-watt (Effective Radiated Power) radio station, with a coverage area of approximately a 12-km radius.
GS- 2ndPaper
Topics covered– Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Uniform Civil Code
Context
Uniform Civil Code is enshrined in the article 44 of Indian Constitution.
About Uniform Civil Code
- The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India proposes to replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in the country with a common set governing every citizen.
- It is a generic set of governing laws for every citizen without taking into consideration the religion.
Constitutional Provisions
- Uniform Civil Code is enshrined in the article 44 of Indian Constitution.
- It is in the Part fourth and under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) of constitution of India.
- According to Article 44-
- “The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.
- Since the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are only guidelines for Stat so it is not mandatory to employ them.
Reasons for a Uniform Civil Code in India
- A secular republic needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices.
- Uniform Civil Code is crucial for gender justice.
- The rights of women are usually limited under religious law, be it Hindu or Muslim. The practice of triple talaq is a classic example.
- Many religious traditions and practices are at odds with the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution.
- Courts have also often said in their judgements that the government should move towards a uniform civil code including the judgement in the Shah Bano case.
The Pros and cons of Uniform Civil Code
The Pros–
- UCC provide equal status to all citizens of India.
- It promotes gender justice.
- It supports national integration.
- It accommodates the aspirations of young population.
- It bypasses the issues of reforming the existing personal laws.
The Cons–
- The application of UCC is practically difficult due to diversity of India.
- The UCC can be seen as encroachment of religious freedom.
- It enables the State interference in personal matters.
- It is sensitive and tough task to implement.
Need of the hour
- Need of the hour is the codification of all personal laws.
- So that prejudices and stereotypes in every one of them would come to light and can be tested on the anvil of fundamental rights of the Constitution.
- By codification of different personal laws, one can arrive at certain universal principles that prioritise equity rather than imposition of a Uniform Code.
- It would discourage many from using the law altogether, given those matters of marriage and divorce can also be settled extra-judicially.
For prelims-
Jan Soochna Portal-2019
- The first-ever public information portal has been launched in Rajasthan.
- It aims to provide information about government authorities and departments suo motu to the public in the true spirit of the Right to Information Act.
- The portal would ensure compliance with Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandating the public authorities to disclose information in the public domain.
- It will make to make government accountable and for that the people need not file applications under the law to obtain information.
Hindi Diwas 2019
Context
- National Hindi Divas or Hindi Day is observed every year on September 14.
- The Hindi Day is a celebration of the Hindi language and its cultural heritage and values among the people of the country and abroad.
- On September 14, 1949 the Constituent assembly of India adopted Hindi as the official language of the country under Article 343.
- Hindi is the fourth largest spoken language of the world.
