COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNITY RADIO SETS

The radio is one of the most potent mass media of modern age. To popularise the radio and to enlighten the rural populace the Government of Maharashtra have introduced in the State many schemes, such as the scheme of community receiving sets on a contributory basis; the scheme of supply of free sets to Adivasi villages; earthquake warning scheme; the scheme of radio rural forums; and the scheme of group listening. Of these, the details of schemes operating at the district level are given below.

The Government of Maharashtra introduced in the State some years back, the scheme of community listening on a cost sharing basis. The community receiving sets, built to a specification finalised by the Government of India, were procured from out- side agencies. However, this work is now entrusted to the Directorate of Publicity, Government of Maharashtra, Bombay. Initially, a gram panchayat has to pay Rs. 265 or Rs. 240 according to its demand for a transistor or mains operated set.

There is a daily programme broadcast by the Regional Station of All India Radio for the villagers in addition to entertainment and news items.

In Yeotmal district, there were 1,263 radio sets as on 31-3-1969 under the contributory radio scheme. There are 4 Rural Broadcasting offices in the Yeotmal district and a proposal for the fifth one is under consideration at Pandharkawada. It would mean that each taluka would have a unit to administer its radio needs. All these offices are under one Deputy Engineer, stationed at Yeotmal. The location of the offices, with the number of radio sets in their jurisdiction, etc., are as under:—

Under the scheme of radio rural forums, a Regional Organiser, attached to the divisional office, organises forums in the villages having community sets. These forums consist of about 20 members drawn from different strata in the villages who get the facility of listening to the special programmes and participation in discussions on various topics. Under this scheme there are 129 radio rural forums in Yeotmal district as detailed below:-

This scheme has been found very useful by many farmers as their difficulties regarding, new techniques and methods in farming and associated fields are quickly and authoritatively answered over the radio. The radio sets are specially designed to provide comfortable listening to about 15 to 20 persons. This scheme is on a cost sharing basis, offering additional listening facilities to women and others, who may not be in a position to listen to the programmes in the evening at the panchayat premises.

TRAVEL AND TOURIST FACILITIES.

The following is a description of travel and tourist facilities in Yeotmal district provided by the Government. There are in all 23 rest houses and circuit houses in the district maintained by the Government of Maharashtra. Primarily, these rest houses are meant for the use of Government officers on duty. But they are also made available to the traveling public. For Government servants on duty, nominal rent is charged. These bungalows are provided with furniture, crockery and utensils. The following is the tahsilwise list of rest houses and circuit houses in the district.

There is no place of tourist interest in Yeotmal district. How-ever, there are a number of places of pilgrimage which are given below: —

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