Using the INSAT series satellites for television broadcasting, India has reached the masses of rural audiences by providing educational and instructional programmes. The Jhabua Development Communications Project (JDCP) configuration has evolved from the experiences of SITE and Kheda Communications Project (KCP).

JDCP has two major elements:
1. Broadcasting and
2. Interactive Training Programmes (ITPs) (facilitated by an interactive satellite based one way video and two way audio network).

JDCP broadcasts development oriented programmes to reach viewers every evening for two hours five days a week from Monday to Friday. Simultaneously it conducts Interactive Training Programmes (ITPs) in the afternoon for panchayat, block and district level functionaries.

Why Jhabua
Project in partnership
Overview of JHABUA
Project Objectives
Network Configuration
Systems Approach
JDCP Experience in ITP
Research for JDCP
Future Directions

In this project 150 receive terminals at the village level and one talkback terminal in each of the twelve block headquarters are installed. This network of talkback and receive terminals are being utilised to conduct training programmes for the field staff and for communicating specific development oriented messages to the audiences at the receive terminals.

The priority areas of development where communication support is required – include Watershed Management, Health, Education, and Panchayati Raj. Watershed Development includes Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Fisheries. The content of the programmes to be transmitted are being defined jointly with the subject experts, State/District/Field officials keeping the needs of the people of Jhabua in view.

The approach to programming has been very much based on the experiences of the Kheda Communications Project described above. Some of the hardware elements like maintenance etc., though similar to SITE, have been modified taking into account the changed TV scenario in the country.

A study conducted in April 1998 as a mid-term evaluation of the project indicated the following:

	50.3% of males and 37.2% of females had viewed JDCP programmes
	Average attendance 40 persons per day per DRS
	More younger people view JDCP programmes
	Nearly 75% of viewers discuss JDCP programmes with others
	About 75% viewers called JDCP programmes interesting, 45% reporting gain of new information
	About 25% mentioned positive impact of JDCP programmes in all areas – farm improvement (37%), greater awareness of health (28%) and Panchayati Raj (20%)
	20 percent mentioned less drinking due to JDCP
	Participatory and drama formats – most liked

The Jhabua Development Communications Project, utilised for the first time services of private producers and researchers for programme production and research. While the results of impact of JDCP were similar to that of SITE and Kheda, it demonstrated that under the changed scenario where substantial private production capability exists, development oriented programmes can operationally be produced at a very reasonable cost without the creation of a large in house infrastructure.

The above experiments and studies have more than adequately demonstrated the potential of the medium. The tools of improving the efficacy of the medium with use of research, audience orientation and participation have been developed. The need now is to use the above lessons and create an operational set up to systematically meet the requirements of the rural areas. But in doing so the current scenario and the recent changes and trends in the TV scene must be taken into account.