With a provision of Rs 100 crore being made by the Government for promotion of community radio stations in the country, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is to conduct a nation-wide survey to assess the success and reach of existing stations and on the need for more.
The Government is contemplating to start a network of 1,000 community radio stations which will operate in a radius of 15 to 20 km each. The development and growth of community radios is felt to bring the Government closer to common man. Further, these stations will take up more local issues issues that are generally neglected by the mainstream media. According to the sources in the Ministry, the survey is expected to be completed in four months.