Lok Sabha Question No. 2060 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Community Radio Station
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2060

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2021)

## COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

2060. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA, SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN, SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR

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

- a)  the  number  of  Community  Radio  Stations  (CRS)  operational  as  on  date  in  the country, state/UT-wise;
- b)  whether the Government is working on any scheme for regular funding of the said radio stations and if so the details thereof;
- c)  the  number of  Letter  of  Intents  (LoIs)  issued  to  Non-Governmental  Organisations (NGOs), Educational Institutions, Government Institutions and others for setting up of CRS till 31 st December 2020;
- d)  whether there is any time period for LoI holders to operate CRS from the date of issue of LoI and if so, the details thereof;
- e)  whether  there  is  any  mechanism  to  cancel  the  LoI,  if  the  LoI  holder  does  not operate CRS in the stipulated period and if so, the number of LoIs cancelled so far; and
- f) other  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  start  more  CRS  in  rural  and urban areas in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES [SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR]

- a) There are 316 Community Radio Stations (CRS) operational in the country as on date. A State/UT-wise list, reflecting the number of CR Stations, is available on Ministry's website www.mib.gov.in.
- b) No Sir.
- c) The number of Letters of Intent (LOI) issued, till 31 st December, 2020, to
4. (i) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is 401;
5. (ii) Educational Institutions (Private) is 164;

(iii) Government Institutions is 182; and

- (iv) Others is 1

d) Yes  Sir.  The  Policy  Guidelines  for  setting  up  Community  Radio  Stations  in India prescribe that within one month of issue of Letter of Intent (LOI), the applicant will  be  required  to  apply  to  the  Wireless  Planning  &  Coordination  (WPC)  Wing  of Ministry of Communications for frequency allocation and clearance from Standing Advisory  Committee  on  radio  Frequency  Allocation  (SACFA).  A  time  frame  of  six months, from the date of application, is prescribed for issue of SACFA clearance. On receipt of SACFA clearance, the LOI holder is required to apply for signing of Grant of  Permission Agreement  (GOPA)  to  the  Ministry of Information  and Broadcasting, along with requisite Bank Guarantee. Further, within three months of receipt of all clearances i.e., signing of GOPA, the permission holder shall set up the Community Radio Station.

e) The  Policy  Guidelines  for  setting  up  Community  Radio  Stations  in  India provide  that  failure  to  comply  with  the  prescribed  time  schedule  shall  make  the LOI/GOPA holder liable for cancellation of its LOI/GOPA and forfeiture of the Bank Guarantee. The Policy Guidelines do not prescribe the mechanism to be followed for  cancellation  of  LOI/GOPA.  The  proposal  for  cancellation  of  LOI,  however,  is placed  before  the  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC),  that  is  constituted  under  the Policy Guidelines for grant of LOI, which takes an appropriate decision. So far, 104 LOIs have been cancelled.

f) Several  measures  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  start  more Community  Radio  Stations  (CRS)  in  urban  and  rural  areas  in  the  country.  The Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  has  pursued  with  Central  Ministries, National  Disaster  Management  Authority  and  State/UT  Governments,  to  motivate eligible  organizations  to  apply  for  CRS  permission,  especially  in  Aspirational Districts,  North  East  region  and  disaster-prone  areas.  Further,  the  Government  of India has approved a Central Sector Scheme namely 'Supporting Community Radio Movement in  India'.  Under  the  scheme,  Community  Radio  awareness  workshops are organized from time to time to spread awareness about Community Radio Policy Guidelines in urban and rural areas in the country and infrastructure support grant is provided to the licensee organization.

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