The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 19 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

eTukTuk, Taking Information down the Bumpy Dirt-road in Sri Lanka

2 comments

Author

Date
Summary

This article shares details about the "eTukTuk", described here as "the world's first radio-station and multimedia centre on three wheels."

Up in the hills of Kothmale, Sri Lanka, this bright blue hybrid vehicle travels along the dirt tracks of Kothmale's villages - bringing information and entertainment to those in remote communities. A heavy-duty battery, inverter, mixer, amplifier, cables and other equipment fit inside the eTukTuk, which is a modified version of an Indian-built Bajaj RE (rear engine) 4-stroke auto rickshaw that is powerful enough to climb the steep hills of Kothmale while carrying a complete radio station and multimedia centre, and a couple of operators. There is a shelf for the laptop, and space to mount a CDMA phone, scanner, camera and battery-operated printer. "Even in the remotest villages of Kothmale, the eTukTuk can get you on the internet, scan and upload documents, download files, print them out and take digital photographs." The roof rack holds two speakers, as well as a vintage 50-watt FM transmitter (a placement of potential concern during the monsoon season...). A portable 1000 watt generator produces enough electricity to recharge the main battery and keep the equipment running for hours.

The brainchild of Ben Grubb of Kothmale Community Radio (KCR) - which is owned and run by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation but which prides itself in involving the community - the eTukTuk was unveiled during the World Press Freedom Day conference in Colombo (May 2006). Later that week in Colombo, the AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters) round table discussion on "Community Radio and its Social Impact" was covered live by the eTukTuk. "With this eTukTuk, it seems to me you've got a great vehicle both in the physical and the symbolic sense, to go out to the communities and the neighbourhoods and to let people speak through their community radio station," said Steve Buckley, President of AMARC. "I think that this is a trend that is going to catch on."

Web link
Click here to read the full article as posted to the BytesForAll Readers listse…
Source

Email from Frederick Noronha to The Communication Initiative on July 7 2006.

Comments

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/27/2006 - 21:11 Permalink

It will help me in my proposed travelogue on my recent visit to Sri Lanka. I took a Tuktuk to visit Arthur C Clarke at 25 Barnes Place on 12 September 2006.-pctamuly@rediffmail.com

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/24/2006 - 16:12 Permalink

This kind of story feels good to read, and I have no doubt the persons involved are sincere and committed. However, they are working firmly within and under the control of one of the most media-repressive regimes in Asia, the Sri Lankan government, which totally owns and manages the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. There is no community radio in Sri Lanka; all that exists under the guise of 'community radio' are some rural transmissions of SLBC. While communities are involved in programme production, I would challenge the champions of these so-called community radio to try criticising the ruling political party on the airwaves and see if they will survive professionally or physically for more than a few days! All this talk of community radio is a serious distraction from the real issues of media suppression and the complete lack of freedom of expression in significant parts of Sri Lankan media under state control.