Farming is the only livelihood for Chero community living in Eruwa village of Lesliganj block of Palamau district. Mid-day meals scheme started in year 2005 for the student was served only for a month in the whole year. Many attempts of perseverance by local villagers failed to influence the school authority. The issue was raised and broadcast by Radio listener club of ‘Chala ho Gaon Mein’ in the month of January2006. The villagers united and made a complaint against the school teacher before the District Collector of Palamau. Collectors himself found the truth of complain and immediately severed a suspension order. But the teacher was able to survive on the patronage of local officials till June 2006. A reporter of this program again reminded and requested to the Collector about this situation. Collector was surprised and immediately released a suspension order and also cautioned the local officers about the administrative actions. On next day June 7, 2006 the teacher was finally suspended from the duty and the matter was published in the daily newspapers.

Migration is an acute problem in the Palamau region. Lack of job opportunity is the major fueling factor for forcing people to migrate. Though the NREGP (National Rural Employment Guarantee Program) has been announced in the state, people were quite unaware about the scheme. Community Radio Program took the lead to propagate the scheme through information market and other narrowcasting events. As a result, in Feb 2006, members of the listener’s club, SHG and other villagers conducted a meeting and marched to the Block to demand further information regarding the employment guarantee scheme. Now most of them have filled up application to get job card. As per the local authority, all those who have filled up application would be provided job within a week.

Biphan Paswan ex–sarpanch of Sagalim Panchayat of Panki Block was stunned by seeing the apathy of the health officer in Palamau when his elder daughter in law died during delivery. He became conscious after listening to the episode related to national rural health missions and the provisions under it. He then took the help of community radio activist and the members of the listener’s club to start a rally to demand provision of adequate health services in the district. They submitted a memorandum complaining about the absence of the doctor in the PHC, non availability of medicine and requested the local authority to disclose all the information regarding the health budget. They demanded an enquiry into misappropriation of health budget funds and approached the DC to take action against it. The issue was taken up seriously by the district authority and medical services in the concerned PHC were restored.

In Meral block, member’s of listener’s club, SHG, Gram Sabha members demanded their right to food through PDS system. Around 500 people marched to the district head quarter and approached the authorities to increase the quota for food distribution under the scheme and check corruption regarding food distribution. The local BDO also helped the people to demand their rights from the government. Among the other demands, provision of adequate amount of kerosene oil was stressed. The government took immediate action and started a mobile campaign to make people aware about their entitlement from the PDS. The concerned dealer in Meral was also asked to provide the required amount of kerosene oil to the card holders.

In Pokhra village of Panki block of Palamau district, the members of listener’s club fought against the corruption in road construction by local contractors. The contractors got work orders for construction of village roads, but the quality of the road construction was not as per the standard. Listener club took up the issue and approached the local authority about this. When the villagers pressurized the concerned officer, he cancelled the work order given to the contractor and the villagers took up the contract to complete the road. Through the effort of the listener’s club a new partnership was forged between the community and the local authority, which prevented corruption in development activity.

With the help of listener’s club, Puja Mahila Samitee of Katar village of Garwha district, approached the local authority as the manager of the Gramin Bank of Katar refused to open passbook in the name of the self-help group. All the members discussed the matter with the Block Development Officer and submitted a written complaint to him. In response to their appeal letter, the BDO took up the issue and instructed the concerned bank manager to facilitate opening of the bank account for the group.

Community Radio instigated people in Panki, Satwarwa and Lesliganj Blocks in Palamau district to stage a mass rally at Tumbagarha to demand their access to drinking water. These areas are known for its acute water crisis during summer season. Though the local authority is aware about the problems of the people, no such steps were undertaken so far. With the intervention of community radio listener’s club, the SHG group and the gram sabha members, this rally was undertaken. As a response to this, the local authorities took initiative to repair hand pumps, install new pumps in the villages.

Community Radio took initiative to spread awareness about government schemes. One such episode was broadcasted for agricultural programs of the government. The listener’s club of Barpani village under Ramna Block approached the local authority after listening to episode. Apart from other beneficiaries, Mr. Kailash Parahiya received wheat seeds PBW-373 & fertilizers. He was also given training by the Agriculture Department. Others are quite agog to grow wheat in this area.

Majurahi village of Arsali Panchayat of Bhawanathpur Block in Garwha district, was selected for provision of houses under Deen Dayal Awas Yojna. However, the concerned BDO didn’t sanction the amount and demanded bribe of Rs. 1100.00 from each beneficiary. Members of listener’s club along with SHG members forced the BDO to provide them the amount, but he was quite adamant. Failed to convince him , the members called a meeting and decided to meet the Minister of Rural Development (Mr. Annos Akka). The minister assured them to take necessary action against the BDO. The BDO was instructed to facilitate provision of the scheme and as such 18 people were benefited.

Khajuri village was not covered under pulse polio program. The villagers were completely unaware of such schemes from the government. After listening to the episode regarding the provision they demanded pulse polio drop to be provided to their children. Through their effort, government official held a separate camp for providing polio drop to the children. Now the whole villagers actively listen to all the episodes and demand their rights collectively.

Narrow casting activities have been taken up to sensitise the community in local hats and other places of social importance and to inject awareness regarding various issues in the locality. Earlier, pre recorded cassettes used to be played in public places for information dissemination, but now other forms of communication such as cultural shows, nukkad natak and platform based narrow casting have been taken up. A planned narrow casting event has been developed and all the local hats (markets) have been covered for such activity.

Around 4000 women took out a rally on International Women’s Day on 8th Mar.06 at Garhwa. Representative of listener’s club, SHG from 6 blocks of the district participated in this program. The demand of women was also presented by the cultural team in the form of a nukkad natak to the invited guest. Eminent persons from the district, elected representatives etc were present on this occasion. Women leaders from SHGs also shared their problems and grievances in this meeting. At the end of the function, an appeal letter containing demands of the women were presented to the Deputy Commissioner of Garhwa.