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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: INDIA CASTE MEDIA
HEADLINE: In India, News Outlet Gives Voice to Low Castes
TEASER: Emergence of media that focus on low caste issues can help amplify the concerns of the Dalit community, which often suffers discrimination
PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 12/06/2023 at 8:19a
BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha
CONTRIBUTOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: pcd
DATELINE: New Delhi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Darshan Singh
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: pcd
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA Original; The Mooknayak
PLATFORMS: WEB ___ TV _x__ RADIO _x__
TRT: 3:00
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVrPKG
EDITOR NOTES: The sentences in italics are for radio script))
((INTRO))
[[In India, a journalist and a member of the country’s low caste community runs a news website where the reporting is focused on groups that have been marginalized for centuries. Meena Kotwal hopes that turning the spotlight on issues affecting the 300 million strong Dalit community will help redress the discrimination they often suffer.]]
((NARRATOR))
Meena Kotwal is on her way to interview a former teacher at Delhi University who is protesting her termination from a temporary post, blaming it on caste discrimination.
It is one of many stories concerning the low caste Dalit community that her news website, The Mooknayak, has covered in over two years.
Kotwal, a Dalit and a journalist, launched her outlet after seeing that injustices suffered by the community often went unreported. She attributes the lack of coverage to the near absence of low caste journalists in leadership positions in mainstream media.
[[For Radio: According to Kotwal, stories about Dalits are covered in a few lines or small columns in newspapers. They don’t get coverage in prime time or debates because there are no editors from the community. ]]
((Meena Kotwal, Founder of The Mooknayak (female in Hindi)))
“Pick up a newspaper and you find that their stories are covered, but only in a few lines and in small columns. They don’t get coverage on prime time or in debates because there are no editors from the community.”
((NARRATOR))
For centuries, the Dalits were at the bottom of the Hindu caste system. Caste-based discrimination has been outlawed and some Dalits have risen to high political posts. But prejudice is still pervasive against the nearly 300 million strong community.
[[For Radio: Although caste-based discrimination is outlawed and some have risen to high political posts, discrimination is still pervasive according to author and political analyst Neerja Chowdhury.]]
((Neerja Chowdhury, Political Analyst (female in English)))
“I would say it has lessened, their lot has improved, but we have a very, very long way to go.”
((NARRATOR))
That is what Mooknayak, which means "the voice of the voiceless," aims to do. Kotwal’s team highlights instances where marginalized communities suffer injustice.
[[For Radio: Kotwal cites the example of a story on how the Dalit-dominated Balia village in Uttar Pradesh had not been given an electricity connection for 75 years. Within three months the government provided power to the village. She says these kind of stories have an impact.]]
((Meena Kotwal, Founder of The Mooknayak, female in Hindi))
“We did a story on a Dalit-dominated Balia village in Uttar Pradesh state that had not been given an electricity connection in the last 75 years. Within three months the administration provided power to the village. These kind of stories have an impact.”
((NARRATOR))
[[For Radio: The emergence of such media can help amplify the concerns of the Dalit community according to Chowdhury.]]
The emergence of such media will help amplify the concerns of the Dalit community.
((Neerja Chowdhury, Political Analyst, female in English))
“Many such initiatives need to be taken, because if you write about their lot, their true state of affairs, give voice to their aspirations, how they see things, then only things will change.”
((NARRATOR))
The Mooknayak initially relied on crowdfunding and donated equipment, but is exploring other sources of funding as it grows. Kotwal is optimistic. Her main goal is to establish credibility.
[[For Radio: Kotwal points out that if BBC, Al Jazeera or other big news outlets do a story, it is seen as factually correct. That is the kind of trust she aspires to build -- that if her news website reports on an incident, it will be regarded as absolutely accurate.]]
((Meena Kotwal, Founder of The Mooknayak, female in Hindi))
“When BBC, Al Jazeera or other big news organizations do a story, it is seen as factually correct. That is the kind of trust I want to build -- that if Mooknayak reports on an incident, it is absolutely accurate.”
((NARRATOR))
Through its reporting, The Mooknayak's website hopes to make a mark by raising awareness about the issues of the Dalit community.
((Anjana Pasricha, VOA News, New Delhi)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 6, 2023 09:23 EST
BylineAnjana Pasricha
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
