OneWorld.net (U.S.)

New Delhi - Aug, 25: Indian grassroots filmmakers and non governmental organisations (NGOs) plan to form a Grassroots Broadcasters Network to spread awareness on developmental and social issues confronting rural India using videos and films.

At a seminar - using video for development - organized on Wednesday by OneWorld South Asia (OWSA), Video SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), NGOs decided to harness the power of films, shot by rural folk, women and people at the grassroots level, for creating awareness people’s issues.

The seminar celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Gujarat-based Video SEWA, an organisation that works for and mobilizes marginalised women, which has used films for advocating the rights of small shopkeepers, hawkers and vendors. Participants said since video is an audio-visual medium, it influences people strongly therefore it can be effectively used for awareness, sensitization and empowerment in rural communities.

General Secretary SEWA, Namrata Bali, says: “We have used video for teaching, training, informing, recording testimonies of women and even court hearings. Our first film was on the exploitation of women vegetable vendors and since then have highlighted the plight of women workers – most of who are in the informal economy.”

Professionals or media graduates have not produced SEWA’s films. Barely-literate women, migrants and slum women have made these films that document the lives, struggles and exploitation of other women like them.

Aruna Parmar was a screen printer before she turned film-maker. Likewise, Nano Behn came to Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, looking for work and not only made films but also became a role model for other rural women who were trying to adjust to city life.

Media expert Rami Chhabria noted that communication is a powerful tool and it has to be exploited for the good of the Indian society. Giving an example she said: "A song sung by activist Aruna Roy's team brought alive the struggle and the reality of the entire movement in a much more stronger manner than all of her lectures put together."

Development journalist Rahul Dev said the Indian media has been growing exponentially but it does not highlight people’s issues in an appropriate manner. “Unless the news is big – farmers suicides, starvation deaths and similar others – the mainstream media does not pick it up.”

“The way out is to get advertisers, proprietors and the marketing people on one platform and discuss these issues with them. Sensitizing only the mainstream journalists, without reaching out to the other spokes in the media world, will not help,” Dev said.

The seminar telecast the films and spots made by grassroots film producers and NGOs. Even though dealing with people’s issues, the videos stood out for their creativity, passion and simplicity. But viewership for such offbeat films was an area of concern.

Director, OneWorld South Asia, Basheerhamad Shadrach mooted the idea of holding grassroots film festivals. He said: “The time for alternative media has come. Need to have festivals where we can show films made by the common man and on themes that touch him. Also need to develop linkages with market forces – TV channels, corporate groups – so that such videos can be taken to a wider audience.”

Bali agreed that her organization has a bank of such films but there are few opportunities and fewer places where these can be shown/telecast. She added: “Video for development can be a very powerful medium of creating awareness on development issues. But we still find it difficult to mainstream these films.”

New Delhi-based CCS holds documentary film festivals and invites video/films on livelihoods, red tapism and governmental policies that exclude the urban poor. Its documentary film festival – Jeevika – creates a platform for amateurs and grassroots film producers to showcase their creativity.

Manali Shah from CCS said: “The protagonists in our films are rickshaw pullers, hawkers, street food-stall owners and similar other workers of the informal sector. We focus on how government policies and the licence raj exploits these workers and almost prevents them from earning a livelihood.”

Professor of Broadcast media from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Raghav Chari lauded the efforts of SEWA women who have won international awards for their films. He said: “Digital technology has ensured that even village women and students are making videos which are evocative. Media students can learn a lot from these grassroots film-makers and explore issues that have not been given adequate attention.”