Lok Sabha Question No. 1875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Community Radios Stations
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Hemant Tukaram Godse, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1875

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021)

## COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS

## 1875.  SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

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

- (a) the objective and primary purpose for setting up Community Radio Stations (CRSs) along with the number of CRSs operating as on date in the country, state/UT-wise particularly in Gujarat; (b) the  details  of  disbursement  of  grants  to  these  centres,  state/UT-wise  particularly  in Gujarat, district-wise; (c) whether the Government is working towards encouraging the process to set up CRSs in rural and urban regions across the country with additional opportunities including providing advertisements from Central and State publicity agencies and if so, the details thereof along with places/regions identified for the purpose, state/UT-wise; (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and the number of CRSs focussing on education and related programmes in the country and whether the Government proposes to increase their reach to areas with poor internet
- (e) connectivity by enhancing their frequency range to 100 KMs and beyond?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) The objective and primary purpose of Community Radio Stations is to broadcast radio programmes having immediate relevance to the community with emphasis on development, agriculture, health, education, environment, social welfare, community development and cultural aspects. There are a total of 329 Community Radio Stations (CRSs) in  the  country.  A  State/UT-wise  list  of  operational  CRSs  is  available  at  the Ministry's website www.mib.gov.in. The total number of Community Radio Stations operating in the state of Gujarat is 11.

- (b)  A  State/UT  and  district-wise  detail  of  grants  disbursed  to  Community  Radio Stations,  including  for  the  State  of  Gujarat,  is  available  at  the  Ministry's  website www.mib.gov.in.
- (c)  To  support  the  Community  Radio  sector,  the  Ministry  of  Information  and Broadcasting has approved a Central Sector Scheme Namely 'Supporting Community  Radio  Movement  in  India'.  Under  the  said  Scheme,  the  Ministry organises  Community  Radio  awareness  workshops  for  creating  awareness  about Community  Radio  Stations,  thus  encouraging  the  process  to  set  up  Community Radio  Stations  in  rural  and  urban  regions  across  the  country.  Community  Radio Stations are also empanelled with Bureau of Outreach Communication (BOC) of the Ministry  for  getting  advertisements  from  Central  and  State  publicity  agencies.  At present, 156 CRSs are empanelled with BOC.
- (d) Not applicable in the view of the above.
- (e)  There  are  a  total  of  142  Community  Radio  Stations  in  the  country  operated  by educational institutions and focussing on education & related programmes. However, other CRSs also broadcast programmes on education and related content as per needs of the community. As per the existing Policy guidelines, a Community Radio Station is expected to cover a range of 5-10 Km. For this, a transmitter having

maximum Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 100 W is adequate. However, in case of a proven need where the applicant organization is able to establish that it needs to serve  a  larger  area  or  the  terrain  so  warrants,  higher  transmitter  wattage  with maximum ERP up to 250 Watts can be considered on a case-to-case basis, subject to availability of frequency and such other clearances as necessary.

****