[HCDX] Bihar radio man gets help from NRIs

[Mukesh Kumar <thecosmosclub@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bihar radio man gets help from NRIs 
 
Indo-Asian News Service

Patna, March 30, 2006 
 
It is now the turn of Indians living abroad to pledge
their support to an enterprising man in Bihar whose
popular radio station has been shut down after failing
to pay license fee to the government.

After reading about the plight of Raghav Mahto and his
Radio Raghav FM Mansoorpur 1, members of the Indian
diaspora are contacting Mahto and the media in the
state to find out how they can help revive the
station.

Some NRIs are ready to fork out money.

Radio Raghav had been beaming popular programmes from
Mansoorpur village in Vaishali district for the past
three years and enjoyed a loyal clientele, drawn from
all sections of the society.

Ajay Kapoor, an NRI in Britain, approached
Bihartimes.com, a popular news portal of the state,
and sought contact details of Mahto.

Ajay Kapoor, a Manchester-based psychologist, has
written to Mahto.

Another NRI, Pranesh Sinha, has apparently offered to
pay the money Mahto needs to get a radio licence. "I
read about this talented man," Sinha said. "I am
really interested in helping him."

The trouble for Raghav Radio started this month when
the district administration directed officials to find
out if it had permission to broadcast.

Mahto says he was not aware that a licence was
required to start a radio station, and he suddenly
realised his enterprise was an illegal operation. The
annual fee for the licence is about Rs.400,000, money
Mahto cannot raise.

"I don't even have the money for medical treatment of
my father who is suffering from cancer," he has been
telling friends.

The 20-something Mahto was forced by officials to sign
a bond promising not to go back on air again.

Another person who has offered to help Mahto restart
the radio is India-born Australian Harc Worsworth.

The Bihar portal's Ajay Kumar said he had received
several queries from within India and abroad. "But
neither the state nor the central government is making
an effort to help this poor man."

Mahto is sad his radio has been closed down, but his
neighbours spread over several villages are fuming.

In a rare show of unity, locals have decided to
collect money to revive Radio Raghav, as it is
popularly known.

"A large number of people have offered financial help
to restart the radio station," Mahto told IANS over
telephone.

One man, Damodar Singh, has announced a contribution
of Rs.5,000. Others have vowed to raise funds.

"My hope lies in the peoples' support," Mahto said.

Vaishali district magistrate Sanjeev Hans said the
station was closed down for violating the Indian
Telegraphs Act.

A formal police complaint was lodged against Mahto and
the radio equipment seized by a three-member team from
the communications ministry in the village on Sunday.

For people residing in and around Mansoorpur village,
Mahto is a hero. He is more popular than the local
legislator and MP and people prefer Radio Raghav to
the national channels.

The station ran community radio service providing
local news and opinion in the local dialect as well as
entertainment programmes for villages in Muzaffarpur,
Vaishali and Saran districts.
 
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_1662501,001600060001.htm

Regards & 73?s
Mukesh Kumar
MUZAFFARPUR 
INDIA.



		
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