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Why this popular Bengaluru community radio station needs your support

The FM covers an area of 30 kms and a target population of eight-ten lakhs. Their reach is as far as Whitefield, Hoskote, Anekal, Malur, Bagur, Sarjapur, Chikka Tirupathi, KR Puram and parts near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

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For three years DS Shamantha founder of 90.4 FM 'Sarathi Jhalak', a community radio channel in rural Karnataka, had successfully managed to put out content that was beneficial to the locals and popular among listeners.

However, the channel which operates from just 70 kms away from Bengaluru, suffered a financial crisis and had to discontinue its shows as the RJs left owing to low salaries. But due to its popularity among its audience, Shamantha and team were forced to put a few shows back on air again within just three days.

"Villagers from around Malur and Hoskote were very upset. It shows the radio has had an impact on them," said Shamantha.

The channel educates the listeners on health, agriculture, folklore, legal matters, social welfare etc. It has lighter content in the evenings. It also caters to problems of the youth by discussing their problems in their evening show 'Manasina Matu'.

The FM covers an area of 30 kms and a target population of eight-ten lakhs. Their reach is as far as Whitefield, Hoskote, Anekal, Malur, Bagur, Sarjapur, Chikka Tirupathi, KR Puram and parts near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

However, the shortage of funds still concerns the radio channel. With RJs receiving just Rs 2000 for their work and the station's equipment in dire need of repairs, the channel is finding it hard to survive on its own.

The channel had received Rs 10 lakh as seed money from the government, but after that the administration has discontinued its financial backing. "Why can't the government help us? We must get aid from the local lawmaker's development funds. Our equipment require repair, for which we need at least Rs 10 lakh. But the way things are, I am afraid if the initiative will even survive," said Shamantha.

Shamantha has now turned to crowdfunding to help the channel sustain. 

Despite the financial crunch, the channel aims to continue its community service and has even has a few ambitious plans. One of these plans is to translate PM Narendra Modi's weekly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat'.

With radio stations 'Sarathi Jhalak' filling the vacuum created by the establishment and society, their existence proves to be even more crucial. 

Sarathi locals have spoken, is Bengaluru listening?

Read more: Here is the channel's crowdfunding initiative

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