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The community radio revolution in India is now set to unfold in full earnest across the hinterland. The Ministry for Information & Broadcasting has approved the applications of as many as seven NGOs to set up community radio systems.

“Seven NGOs have got the licence from the Inter Ministerial Committee to set up community radio stations. Other groups are likely to get clearance at the next meeting at the end of this month. The ministry has received a heartening response on the community radio front, with some 140 applications under the new broadened scheme,” said a senior official from the ministry.

The 7 NGOs cleared include The Energy Research Institute of India (TERI) headed by well-known environmentalist R K Pachauri, Chennai-based Alternative for India Development, Delhi-based Society for Development Alternatives, Deccan Development Society in Hyderabad, Mannvikas Samajik Sansthan based in Satara in Maharashtra, Indian Society of Agri-Business Professionals and the Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency in Bangalore.

The move to allow NGOs to set up community radio stations was made by the ministry last year when it broadbased its policy to include them besides educational institutes and agricultural organisations.

Most NGOs that have applied with the ministry are looking at reaching out to remote areas. “TERI will be basing its radio station in Mukteshwar in Suti, Uttarakhand. We are planning to involve farmers and the youth in the area in creating the right content for the radio station. Dissemination of education and agriculture-based information will be our focus area. TERI hopes to contribute to the already robust community training programme in the country,” said an official associated with TERI.

Other agencies approved of include Krishi Vigyan Kendras and several educational institutes. Now, there are some 27 community radio stations in the country. The ministry plans to push up the figure and is organising workshops in different parts of the country to explain how the system is set up. Their efforts seem to be paying off with hundreds of applications with them now from across the country save Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East.

Setting up a community radio requires clearances from both the Defence ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs and these do not come easily for insurgency affected areas.

Source: Indian Express