With the election just around the corner, two women from Vizhunthamavadi, a village situated 23 km from Nagapattinam, have taken up the all-important task of helping rural women make informed decisions and familiarising them with the VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines through their community radio station — Kalanjiam Samuha Vanoli 90.8.
“We saw that most of the election-related information that a family receives is through a male member. So, we started focusing on disseminating information for women, through women. Through our programmes, we make sure that not only women but also their families know their rights as voters and can demand them,” says Ranjeeda, station manager and radio jockey.
Launched in 2008, the radio station, a first-of-its kind in Tamil Nadu, which was set up in a paddy field, began working with fisherfolk, farmers, women and the disabled in the wake of the 2006 tsunami on information pertaining to relief and rehabilitation. Soon, the radio station began taking up cultural, health and women’s issues and conducting workshops and training programmes. Now, Aparna Shukla, a former journalist and an SBI Youth for India fellow, who took on the role of director of the station, and Ms. Ranjeeda run the show.
Apart from broadcasting programmes titled ‘What is NOTA’, ‘How to choose a candidate’ and ‘Facilities on the National Voter Service Portal (NVSP) website’, the radio station is hoping to bring behavioural changes in families when it comes to deciding whom to vote for. “Our village usually has a high voter turnout, but there is lacuna in the system, as in the approach to choosing a candidate, women's participation and awareness programmes, apart from booth-level facilities for the disabled,” says Ms. Aparna.
The pair have begun conducting mock elections and training the people on how to use EVMs and VVPAT machines to ensure that their votes are cast without any errors.
Kanaga, 19, a first-time-voter from Vadugoor, says the radio programmes made her realise the importance of voting. “I heard about NOTA from a friend and realised that the youth need to assume accountability instead of blaming others for everything that is wrong with our country,” she says.
Durga, who came to know about the cVigil app through the radio station, says, “I have heard of several malpractices during elections, and about candidates handing out money in exchange for votes. When I heard that the cVigil app helps you report such incidents, I was really happy that something could be done about them safely. I’ll surely tell others about it.”
After recovering from the impact of Cyclone Gaja, the radio station has launched an initiative called ‘Voice of the Vulnerable’ to train young women in reporting.
