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The initial
idea to establish a community radio station in the Rupandehi district
began with discussions between Mr Ghanshyam Bhusal, former MP of
Rupendehi district and Mr Raghu Mainali, former Station Manager
of Radio Sagarmatha. These discussions highlighted a need for a
communication facility that was available for the whole community
and that could be used as a tool to encourage cultural, social and
environmental development. Mr Bhusal called a meeting with local
community members, the idea was developed and with the initiative
and support of the community a cooperative was formed to establish
the radio station.
Why
cooperative?
The challenges
of obtaining the licence, the management of the financial and technical
constraints and to achieve the belief that we can run a radio in
a rural area in our own capacity were the obstacles that had to
be faced to proceed further. As there was no financial backing from
either Government or Non-government organisations and we, on the
other hand, were against making the media a personal tool of any
commercial house. To launch such a project from the public level
a well defined framework was development. The parameters were as
follows:
• Not
being dependent on any donor and/or business in its establishment.
• Possessing
a very broad public participation, such as political beliefs, social
classes and professions etc.
• All
participants being the owners.
• The
organisation being responsible and committed to the society.
The ideal organisation
to suit our purpose was determined to be a cooperative. Thus, Lumbini
Information and Communication Cooperative came into existance and
today the voice of Radio Lumbini has become a part of social life
in the Lumbini area.
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The
Organization
The
cooperative has 100 members now that was 69 at the begining the
general assembly, being the supreme body of the organisation, is
held at least once every year to decide on the general policy matters.
The general assembly elects the executive body that has the mandate
to function for three years. The executive body holds its meeting
once a month in general to supervise the day-to-day functions on
voluntary basis. The executive body is non-paid. The sub committiees
function under the executive committee. The sub-committies being
the programme, finance, technical, marketing etc. The manager is
the executive head of the organisation, responsible to the executive
committee.
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Financial
Policy
Established
fully with its own resource, the Radio Lumbini has the following
financial policy :-
- The financial
cost is managed by the cooperative relying on its own as far as
possible.
- The running cost is fully managed locally by the cooperative.
- Donors/ Sponsors are welcome for upgrading the equipment and quality
of radio programmes.
- Revenue raised from the advertisements is invested to run the
station.
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Assistance
Recieved
Community radio
support center center and Radio Sagarmatha and NEFEJ have always
helped us through interaction, technical suggestion, training and
programme support.
- After one
year of the establishment, DANIDA/HUGOU has provided assisstance
of studio equipment and training enabling us to increase the transmission
time from six hours to twelve hours.
- UNESCO has kindly granted us the audio equipment which has increased
the level of inspiration and we have planned to increase the tranmission
time.
- The NPI has also provided a short training.
- Now RL is working in partner with MS Nepal.
- We are provided a very wide moral support from various organisations
and personalities of different sectors.
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