With the aim to improve the scope and parameters of community radio in various States especially focusing on the need of marginalised people residing in interior areas, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in association with an NGO, Seeking Modern Applications For Real Transformation (SMART) organised a workshop covering varied dimensions of community radio here on Saturday. Importance of community radio, technological aspects including the licence procedure was discussed in the workshop.
The Central Government is adopting all possible measures to help the licence seekers of community radio stations in several perspectives. “The Government has planned to expand the community radio project. In the next five years almost every district will have a community radio stations. In Jharkhand there are only two community stations which need to be increased in the coming days,” informed, Assistant Project Director of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Amit Dwivedi.
The license to run community radio is given only to NGOs, educational institutes and agricultural research institutes. At present, there are only 190 community radio stations in India functioning in different States. In Jharkhand there are only two community radio stations functioning in Garhwa and Ranchi.
“To disperse basic essential information on techniques of farming, sanitation, health, about Government schemes, women empowerment and other social issues community radio is a powerful medium. Radio has maximum reach in comparison to other modes,” said Radio Mewat Founder, Archana Kapoor.
There are certain hindrances too which confine it’s functioning. “There are several myths about the functioning of community radio. Apart this, lack of knowledge about the procedure for getting the license to run community radio is another hindrance which is curtailing its growth,”added Kapoor.
The licence procedure needs to be cleared from seven different ministries,” added Kapoor.
To avail the licence of community radio, an individual have to submit detailed application forms (DAF) to the Ministry of Information and broadcasting. After the selection of forms, the interested candidates face the panelists where they present their opinion on the benefits of community radio and how it can enhance their respective communities dealing with the problems and challenges faced by the people living there.
“There are different stages which need to be covered for getting community radio licence. Area selected for running the radio stations, demographic profile including the contents which will be aired on also matters while distributing the license. Ministry of telecommunications gives the spectrum charges and blocks frequency for smooth functioning of community radio,” said Rural Community Manager of Development Alternatives who runs a community radio station at Bundelkhand.