India: Community radio saves lives and livelihoods

Writing for IPS, Manipadma Jena introduces Radio Namaskar, a community radio station on the air since February 2010 in an Indian coastal town. While television weather forecasts are unreliable because of erratic power supplies, "Radio Namaskar broadcasts high wind and cyclone warnings at short intervals; its range extends 35 km out into the sea," says Gengri Mania, carrying a radio on fishing trips.

"Radio Namaskar’s dedicated mobile phone line was a life-saver," says Ali Akbar Shah, recalling the heavy rains and high floods episode of September 2011 when the radio had a crucial role as intermediary between stranded victims and relief and rescue operations on the other.