Role of Community Radio for Tribal Empowerment

The issues of the marginalized people are less discussed by the mainstream
media. The community radio stations give importance to those people who find it difficult
to raise their voices. The tribal people get opportunity to listen to radio in which the
programmes are made in their own dialects. They themselves become programme
producers and are able to make it useful for their community. Their traditional
programmes are also transmitted without any interventions. Sometimes the anchors
approach the people directly and get the responses of the audience. The women get
opportunity to produce programmes of their interests. The farmers also get information
about the agricultural products and the related demands. The expert advices are also made
available to them. So Community Radio helps people to include themselves in the
schedules of radio programmes and uplift their conditions. This study aims to analyze how
Community Radio help to raise the voices of the oppressed by focusing on the problems of
tribes, women, farmers etc. This study focuses on the impact of various programmes of
Radio Mattoli in Manathavady belonging to Wayanad District of Kerala that helps in
bringing out the voices of the marginalized communities. Random sampling method is
used to make a Quantitative analysis.