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Chhattisgarh Project

Communications Strategy
  


A communications strategy is undertaken to reach out to the maximum number of people and inform them on their rights while they interface with the law enforcement. CHRI disseminates this information using flyers (Link) (this was launched on December 10, 2004 by the Home Minister, Mr. Brijmohan Agarwal and was disseminated through the newspapers in Raipur and Durg. Besides this pamphlets and literature in easy to read style is also prepared for the community.

A radio programmes has been developed and is presently being broadcast in the form of a series called Chinhari Adhikar Aur Zimawar from Raipur station. The script and the production of the 13 series episode was prepared by Bhismadev Chutervedi. BSR Films of Raipur was involved in the production and preparation of the series. Each programme has a built in evaluation and monitoring strategy which enables CHRI to not only evaluate the programme but also get an understanding of the audience who are listening to the programme. After 7 episodes were broadcast almost 220 people from across the five districts where the programme is broadcast, have written to the programme facilitator on their requirements, on queries they have on policing or human rights. Some people have also sent their complaints on custodial deaths etc. CHRI will continue to broadcast the programme through 2006.Radio and spots and jingles were also broadcast from Bilaspur station in 2003.

Spots for cable television and cinema halls in Raipur and Durg were prepared and broadcast. The three spots were prepared by Nikhil Padgaonkar a young film maker with the staff of CHRI. The three spots are on how a citizen can file an FIR and get a copy free of cost; that domestic violence should be reported to the police; that the police and the community must interact for a peaceful society. While the spots were being filmed, the Chhattisgarh Police showed their interest in partnering on the project and even stepped in to provide all the actors and actresses for the spots. The spots were initially broadcast on cable television for six months in Raipur, Durg and Bhilai and later were converted from beta format to 35 MM film format by Films Rajendraa, New Delhi and are presently being shown in 12 movie halls in Raipur and Durg.

Recently, the Kalyan College has conducted a survey at four movie theatres asking people of their opinion on citizen's rights and whether dissemination techniques by using the television or the theatres are effective or not. The following are some of the results:

The survey was conducted in four movie halls from 25-26th September 2005; a total 109 respondents were interviewed. All the respondents agreed that they had seen the spots in the movie hall. When the respondents were asked about the three spots, most of the respondents were convinced and satisfied to see the information that was provided on how to file an FIR. Regarding the spot which provides information on how to file an FIR, a few people said that they came to know about the telephone number of the control room for the first time. However, in the third spot which showed a live community police meeting at Maana, the respondents did not show any reaction as the concept was new and uncommon.

When asked if public interest messages should be continued to be broadcast using different types of communications, almost all respondents said that information of this nature was valuable and the efforts should be continued. On being asked if the police should be reformed, most people felt that reform was necessary. To another question 49% of the respondents said that they had seen the spot on cable channel while 51% said that they had not. From the brief survey it is possible to see that the citizens are keen to view and gather knowledge on their rights and that several people also remembered that the spots were viewed earlier on the cable channel in their cities.

The responses from the radio programme and the survey of opinion at the movie halls have reconfirmed that there is a vacuum at present on knowledge on rights of the people vis a vis the police. Also large-scale dissemination of information has to be in some attractive and packaged form, which will create an impression on people's mind. A more vigorous campaign on dissemination on citizen's rights can be initiated in the state, especially keeping in mind that the state is facing a major crisis in terms of governance and maintaining law and order. With the State Police department, discussions have been initiated so that the programme maybe broadcast from other stations.

At the community level, alternate media such as street plays (nukkad natak) "Hum Sab Police Hai" has been staged in all the villages of Maana and also in Raipur. The nukkad natak was recorded on video and has been edited by Films Rajendraa (New Delhi) and is now a 17 minute documentary film which is presently shown at various police sensitisation programmes and legal literacy classes. Loud speakers are also used to make announcements on occasions like akshaya trithiya - the season when child marriages are performed in some areas of Maana and people are requested to report the incidences and cooperate with the police.

Presently a community based newsletter is also facilitated by CHRI called Sahyog Maana. The newsletter was launched by Mr. Ram Vichar Netam, The Home Minister of Chhattisgarh. After two issues were printed the readership has increased and so also CHRI's network of police personnel and civil society has also shown interest reading more on policing issues. In early 2006 the newsletter was up dated to a broadsheet called "Lok Police".