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Awakeing, Informing, Empowering
Charkha Team creates Communication Networks in remote areas in Bihar
Anshu Meshack
Taking forward the work carried out so far in Darbhanga and Sitamarhi Districts, a team of two – Anisur Rahman Khan of the Urdu Feature Service and Shams Tamanna of the Hindi Feature Service – travelled to the two districts between November 10-21, 2011 to teach communication skills and give access to information to a wider network of youth, thus enabling them to use the power of mainstream media to highlight the development challenges of the disadvantaged.
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In Pupri block of Sitamarhi District near the Nepal border, the team worked with an initially shy group of young men and women from remote parts who were introduced to the world of print media for the first time. They also experienced, first-hand (see right), the power of legislations like the Right to Information, made more people-friendly by the Govt. of Bihar by introducing toll-free numbers where an RTI application can be filed. |
A three-day Skill Building Session in Pupri was Charkha’s first foray into this remote region; the eagerness to learn was evident among the select young men and women who hold a firm belief in the use of their abilities for the greater common good.
Following up on the inputs given at Skill Building Sessions held in Darbhanga since the summer of 2009, a five-day Session, including a field visit, was conducted with the now larger group of writers comprising young men and women who have come together to organize themselves into a cohesive group and consistently writing articles that have regularly been published as Charkha Features in Hindi, English and Urdu. |
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The field visit was a practical exposure to the challenges and lessons to be learnt when framing a story and obtaining investigative details from the field. Bisfi Bock in the neighboring Madhubani District proved to be a rich learning ground for the young group, who recognized the sobering reality of the lives of disadvantaged rural Indians. |
The use of Wall Magazines remains an integral part of the teaching and the skilled groups created Wall Magazines in separate groups, sharing their new media skills with their colleagues and College faculty. |
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A computer provided by Charkha and presently housed in MRM College, Darbhanga is now being used by the young writers to learn typing in Hindi so that they send their writings using digital media. |
The group is now organizing itself to bring out a monthly publication called Hamari Awaaz from January 2012, encouraged by offers of support from Dr M B Verma, eminent scientist, the College Principal and local civil society organizations. |
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