Saarathi - History

History

RATIONALE BEHIND STARTING SAARATHI

The process of social change is a slow and gradual one. Change can be brought about only by transforming the mindset of the people through proper information and by providing proper avenues and alternatives for changes. The media, both print and electronic can become forceful instruments of change by projecting issues that concern people from different angles and perspectives. In this regard I (Shamantha, the Director of Saarathi) have produced several programmes and written articles on people oriented issues like family courts, marital problems, education, child labour, Human rights, culture, socio-medical aspects, Government policies etc. It is my earnest desire to share some of my experiences and resources through Development Communications. Saarathi,being a Centre for such exchange and sharing of experiences, will try to enhance the intellectual capacity of media persons and communicators in general. Saarathi strongly believes in a well informed media professionals can reach the masses more effectively.

Need for and the role of Regional media

In this post globalisation era, there is a paradigm shift in the media. Premier social organizations like UNO, Ford Foundation, Oxfam etc, and social scientists have also realised the need for and role of grassroots media. In this context the ‘Language Media Advocacy’ has occupied a major role in development sector. During 90’s a drastic shift has occurred in India and other developing countries. The gradual shifting of priorities from English to regional language media have encouraged professionals to systematically disseminate the development information.

It is significant that in recent years there has been a paradigm shift in priorities by the Kannada media, from popular fiction to issue based programmes. Saarathi can act as a Resource Centre for both media personnel and writers who focus their interest on women, health and other social related issues.

Another factor strongly in favour of setting up the Centre is the recent trend among Kannada journalists, free-lancers, stringers, columnists and writers to concentrate on women oriented and other issues because of its commercial viability. The reason why they address these cliché subjects most of the times is that they have no scope for better insights or access to additional information or material for producing programmes of a different genre. my suggestions have been well received in almost of the cases I have been invited to clarify or authenticate the content of the articles or programmes.. Once the communicators start utilising the resources of the centre and interacting with it, a new pressure group will be created and this group can be instrumental in bringing about positive changes in society. The facilities made available at the Centre can be utilised by not only the mainstream communicators, but the students of communication, other organisations, MNCs, corporates as well. The Centre can exert pressure on the Universities bring about the required changes in the curriculum.

Some interesting facts have come to light during the interaction with various media persons on matters related to various issues such as—

Ø There has been no serious effort on the part of the media to share information on Developmental issues.

Ø The Media Academy, Press Club, Working Journalists Association etc. are also interested to address these issues systematically.

Ø Sharing field activities, observations, research and other experiences with the Media is of a different approach and Saarathi wants to build up a healthy working relation ship development agencies.

Ø Saarathi specially focuses its priority towards grassroots media activities.

Ø A need for Capacity Building activities for working media personals.

As a first step, a workshop for the Media, Government and NGOs was organised in 2000, and it was sponsored by IGSSS. And, in this first workshop Saarathi had focused more on Print Media. The outcome of the workshop was a re-emphasis on the need to start a Media Centre in the regional language (Kannada) for the following reasons:-

Ø The Kannada reading public will be able to actively participate in the efforts of the government and the NGOs towards solving this problem, if presented in an interesting manner in the language they understand. Viz- Kannada. We are sure the contents of popular presentations will be stronger and reach the people more effectively if proper information is disseminated systematically.

Ø The media centre will also equip the media professionals and communicators with proper information about local NGOs who are working in different areas.

Resources are available at both the urban and rural/semi urban level.