[cr-india] Community Radio Stations to get Rs 100 cr boost

[Kanchan K. Malik]

Here is the link to the story:

http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/community-radio-stations-to-get-rs-100-cr-boost-621215.html

*Community Radio Stations to get Rs 100 cr boost*

*by  <http://www.firstpost.com/author/>*Feb 11, 2013

*
*

*New Delhi:* To give a fresh impetus to the Community Radio movement in the
country, the government is planning to allocate Rs 100 crore in the 12th
Five Year Plan, I&B minister Manish Tewari said today.


It was also proposed to set up 500 new Community Radio Stations (CRS)
during the Plan period, Tewari said while speaking at the 3rd National
Community Radio Sammelan in New Delhi.
][image: Union Minister Manish Tewari delivering the valedictory address at
the 3rd National Community Radio Sammelan, in New Delhi on Monday. Image
courtesy PIB]Union Minister Manish Tewari delivering the valedictory
address at the 3rd National Community Radio Sammelan, in New Delhi on
Monday. Image courtesy PIB
The ministry had identified key benchmarks for the Plan period whereby a
road map would be prepared to provide assistance for operating Community
Radio Stations, he said.

Elaborating on the proposal of the Plan fund, the minister said Rs 90 crore
had been proposed for providing financial support, while Rs 10 crore was
proposed for training, capacity building and awareness activities of CRS.

Provisions had also been made for giving grants in this sector for research
and innovations, he said.

Tewari said the ministry has also made a provision for Emergency Grant for
CRS.

He said in order to encourage working of such stations, several key
proposals and initiatives were being looked into that included Peer Review
of Community Radio Stations, capacity building of community radio operators
and Code of Ethics for self-regulation of content by CRS.

Tewari said efforts were being made by the ministry in coordinating
relevant issues with Ministry of Communications and IT with regard to
better frequency allocation plan for the CRSs.

He said it was likely that the Department of Telecom would announce
decision on spectrum fee waiver shortly.

Tewari said the ministry had taken the initiative to promote the
streamlining and simplification of Community Radio empanelment through DAVP
thereby ensuring that empanelled stations got a fair share of government
advertisements.

The Minister also conferred various awards on Community Radio Stations in
different parts of the country.

The first prize in Most Creative Programme Content Award was given to Radio
Mewat while second prize went to Radio Benziger, Kollam, Kerala and third
prize was bagged by SSM Community Radio, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.

The Sustainability Model Award was provided to Radio Mattoli, Wayanad,
Kerala.

Later, in an open house session, Community Radio representatives put forth
their suggestions and problems before the officials.

Apart from other issues, some radio stations complained that transmitted
signals got jumbled in frequency allocated to them.

*PTI*

-- 
Dr. Kanchan K. Malik
Associate Professor
Department of Communication
Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication
University of Hyderabad
Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500046
Phone: +91-40-23135506 (O)
           +91-990-858-2613 (M)
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