The Indian government has set an ambitious target of moving towards the goal of attaining 600 Community Radio stations in Phase-I.

The Community Radio world in India is all set to get bigger with four new stations going on air by the end of next month. Spread across the country, these four stations are enthusiastically looking forward to serving the local community.

BBD Community Radio, a Community Radio station by Babu Banarasi Das University, Lucknow, is all set to serve the community. The Community Radio station is expected to be operational by the end of August, 2014.

While indicating towards the diverse population of Lucknow, Amit Kumar, member of the BBD Community Radio said that their station would be expected to address a wide range of problems. Besides health, education, and other development related issues, it would make special programmes on legal advisory for those who are unaware of their rights.

Finding the licensing process cumbersome, he said it took them two around years to obtain the license. Appreciating the work of Community Radio Facilitation Centre, he said that it helped them at every step in procuring the license.

To meet the challenge of the station’s financial sustainability, he further suggested that the DAVP rates should be increased.
Another CR station is being operationalised by the NGF College of Engineering and Technology (NGFCET), Palwal, Haryana. The station will be titled as ‘Radio NGF Palwal’.

‘Radio NGF Palwal will help the community to raise their issues, to increase the level of knowledge and awareness’, said Sharat Kaushik, Director, NGFCET.

Our primary concerned area will include women development, education, poverty and health, Kaushik elaborated.

Taking a step towards its commitment to community development, Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University is also going to start its own Community Radio station.

Kerala, which already has seven Community Radio stations, is all set to get the eighth one by Global Educational Net, Alapi.

With the inclusion of these four stations, there will be a total of 175 Community Radio stations in the country.

Author: Ruby Rani/ OneWorld