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The rise and fall of Raghav Radio in a remote district of Bihar is not just a case of innovation in technology and rugged entrepreneurship, but also a classic example of administrative laws being applied without an intelligent and sensitive appraisal. True, administration, unlike other agencies such as media or an academic researcher, or even the political entrepreneur has to operate within the law. Contrary, a slightly more proactive administration could have 'leveraged' this innovation, not just for supporting Raghav, but also for institutionalizing this development and spreading it across the country. Reason, that this has been one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent times.

Such situations often crop up where administrators are expected to implement laws and regulations, which were made in a time and context that was so different. Take for example the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), which sp ecifies the quality parameters and the 'fat and SNF (solids, not fat) content in milk'. The PFA was formulated in the context of milk supply to metro towns. But it was soon extended to cover non metro areas, including the hill and mountain regions, where cows graze on mountain slopes and do not get feed supplements which are the norm in the plain areas. Naturally their milk is not as 'dense', and does not match up to the PFA norms. Should the sale of such pure unadulterated milk from the mountain cows be banned in Darjeeling and Shimla and Mussorie? Well, as per the strict interpretation of PFA, criminal prosecution should be launched not only against the producers, but also against the vendors who have supplied this pure, organic milk, which is definitely less toxic and more beneficial to the human body than any other milk? 

Faced with a situation of this nature in the early nineties, the undersigned wrote to the government and got the application of PFA amended for the hill sub divisions of the Darjeeling district.

I gave this example to highlight the fact that rules and laws are not Biblical injunctions, which cannot be changed. In fact, I would go to the extent of saying that it is the fundamental duty of ground level administrators to point out the lacunae in laws, which makes the system so unresponsive and negative. Many such examples can be given where the district administration has intervened in a positive and proactive manner, and suggested the necessary changes under legal provisions, or at least supported individuals and groups to get the requisite support.

What could have been done?

• Step 1: The DM should have visited Raghav personally, or at least sent an officer to ascertain that what Raghav was doing was one of the finest, low cost interventions in rural communications. He should have got the police to verify that Raghav was not involved in any insurgency group, and that the innovation was not creating any intentional problems in the police wireless service.

• Step 2: The DRDA should have stepped in, as it is essentially a project of rural empowerment. A team of the PD DRDA, the DIO, and possibly a proactive member of the local bar council should have been constituted to assist Raghav to fulfill all the requirements of licensing.

• Step 3: The actual grant of a license to Raghav may have taken some more time, but then Raghav's strength and finances would have become formidable.  Raghav's exceptional skills and technique could have been recognized in near future.

Let me end on a positive note. Raghav's case has stirred a debate. As soon as it was reported over the Internet by Osama Manzar, director, Digital Empowerment Foundation, support for Raghav grew. The National Innovation Foundation has stepped in to assist. And the case is being discussed in the LBS National Academy. Hopefully, we will also see a change in the policy regime in this sector. The potential and scope is phenomenal, and hopefully, over the next few months, we will hear the waves make an impact!

Sanjeev Chopra, secretary, industry & IT, Uttaranchal Government
mail@dqindia.com
The views expressed are his personal and not that of the government

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