The Hindu/ M Raghuram

Mangalore, Feb 22: Reality shows need not necessarily be woven around celebrities. Mangalore's own channel CCI shows how. Its programme "Jana Mana" will be airing its 350th episode on Sunday. In the last seven years, it has provided a lively platform for the people to speak up about their problems with the authorities who matter — live on television.

Making a modest beginning in July 2000, the programme is unique in its approach. Its guest-line on the show has included people's representatives from all levels, officials, academicians, administrators, medical specialists, educationists, office-bearers of various organisations, politicians, religious persons, celebrities and achievers. The guests interact with the anchor and respond to questions from the viewers live. Its anchor Manohar Prasad says the show has so fat received 13,020 questions till its previous episode.

Prasad says issues such as like water supply, disputes connected with bills of civic body, electricity and telephone companies and traffic woes have been taken up in the programme. He considers one of the most useful solution that Jana Mana has given was issuance of free bus passes to 20 visually impaired and physically challenged poor people and water connection given to 40 houses in Kulshekar area by the Mangalore City Corporation.

The promises made by the guests on the show will be followed up by a research team of the channel say Harish Karkera and Brahmananda Kandlur, directors of the channel. This mechanism allows the people relate the cases presented at the show with the officials.

Prasad says issues on health and religion always evoke more response. There were occasions when the episodes were stretched to two to three hours owing to questions from the public.