What is the most effective way to change/improve living standards?

When measured the living standard of the people of two different places having a wide digital divide, the one who is digitally rich seems to dominate the other. The people having easy access to information have better knowledge of how they should live and what they need to do to generate money they need.

Moreover, it is obvious that a person having adequate information will generally have more KAM (Knowledge, Access and Money). For instance, having information about a new technology is having knowledge and the knowledge we have helps to access the technology and finally the use of technology can help us generate more money within less time.

Along with the necessity of being in touch with the mass media, being media literate is also equally important to improve our living standard. The way we think and the way we perceive things may not be as they are conveyed. Thus, the power to judge, analyze and make the correct choice helps improve our status.

Like as in the documentary "Asian Communities in Action", Palung FM has helped farmers know the market price of the things they sell. They also get the information related to their health problems, education and social issues. Women empowerment is another good example that rests on the contribution of community radio. They have benefited a lot by the community radio through information sharing. Thus, being well informed through mass media is the most effective way to improve living standard.

Chandiraj Dahal