Lok Sabha Question No. 292 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Community Radio Stations
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 292

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017)

## COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS

## *292. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Community Radio Stations in the country for agricultural farmers, State-wise;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government for supporting and developing these stations;
- (c) the funds allotted to States for the development of such stations during the last three years, State-wise ; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  plan  for  the  development  of Community Radio Stations for fishermen also in the coastal regions of the country for updating the weather forecast and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SH. M. VENKAIAH NAIDU)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 292 FOR REPLY ON 22.03.2017.

- (a)  Permission to set up Community Radio Station (CRS) is granted to educational institutions, registered societies/NGOs and Krishi Vigyan Kenderas/State Agricultural Universities under the Policy Guidelines for setting up of Community Radio Stations in India, issued in the year 2006. Policy guidelines prescribe that the basic objective of the  Community Radio broadcasting is to serve the cause of the community in the service area of the permission holder by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their programmes. The programmes are of immediate relevance to the community. The emphasis of the programmes is on issues related to development, agriculture, health, education, environment, social welfare, community development and culture.  At  present  202  Community  Radio  Stations are  operational across  the country. State wise details of operational CRSs are at Annexure.

(b)  Awareness workshops are being organized by this Ministry to sensitize people about the community radio policy and create awareness amongst aspiring applicants about issues relating to setting up, operation & maintenance of Community Radios. So far 79 awareness workshops have been organised across the country.  Besides this, six National Sammelans have been organised for Community Radio operators, Government Ministries and Departments, UN organisations and other stakeholders for exchange of ideas and discussions. Ministry  also  provides  financial  support  to  new  as  well  as  existing  CR  Stations  for purchase of equipment and for upgrading technology etc. (c) Financial assistance for purchasing equipment is provided to licensee organization. No funds are allotted to states for development of CRSs. (d) Policy Guidelines for setting up of Community Radio Stations (CRS) in India allows setting  up  of  CRS  in  any  part  of  the  country  including  coastal  regions,  subject  to fulfillment of eligibility criteria. Community Radio Stations, set up as per the policy, can also be effectively used for disseminating weather forecast for fishermen.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO. 292 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## State/UT wise details of Operational Community Radio Stations in India

| Sr. No.           | STATE/ UT                   | OPERATIONAL CRS   |
|-------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh              | 6                 |
| 2                 | Arunachal Pradesh           | Nil               |
| 3                 | Assam                       | 3                 |
| 4                 | Bihar                       | 6                 |
| 5                 | Chhattisgarh                | 3                 |
| 6                 | Goa                         | Nil               |
| 7                 | Gujarat                     | 7                 |
| 8                 | Haryana                     | 9                 |
| 9                 | Himachal Pradesh            | 2                 |
| 10                | Jammu and Kashmir           | 1                 |
| 11                | Jharkhand                   | 1                 |
| 12                | Karnataka                   | 17                |
| 13                | Kerala                      | 9                 |
| 14                | Madhya Pradesh              | 15                |
| 15                | Maharashtra                 | 17                |
| 16                | Manipur                     | Nil               |
| 17                | Meghalaya                   | Nil               |
| 18                | Mizoram                     | Nil               |
| 19                | Nagaland                    | Nil               |
| 20                | Orissa                      | 10                |
| 21                | Punjab                      | 4                 |
| 22                | Rajasthan                   | 8                 |
| 23                | Sikkim                      | Nil               |
| 24                | Tamil Nadu                  | 30                |
| 25                | Telangana                   | 7                 |
| 26                | Tripura                     | Nil               |
| 27                | Uttarakhand                 | 9                 |
| 28                | Uttar Pradesh               | 23                |
| 29                | West Bengal                 | 2                 |
| Union Territories | Union Territories           |                   |
| 30                | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Nil               |
| 31                | Chandigarh                  | 3                 |
| 32                | NCT of Delhi                | 6                 |
| 33                | Dadra and Nagar Haveli      | Nil               |
| 34                | Daman and Diu               | Nil               |
| 35                | Lakshadweep                 | Nil               |
| 36                | Puducherry                  | 4                 |
| GRAND TOTAL       | GRAND TOTAL                 | 202               |