[cr-india] Community radio no longer just a rural phenomenon

Thu Feb 14 03:29:29 IST 2013

 Community radio no longer just a rural phenomenon
By *exchange4media News
Service<http://www.exchange4media.com/news/Author.aspx?AuthorName=content@exchange4media.com>
*
Tuesday,Jan 29, 2013
 1 32    <http://www.exchange4media.com/49602_community-radio-no-longer-just-a-rural-phenomenon.html#>

Community radio stations have been an integral part of the Indian radio
ecosystem but have failed to receive the kind of recognition they deserve.
As of May 15, 2012, there are approximately 126 operational community radio
stations in India, out of which 78 are focussed on education, 38 on NGOs
and 10 on ‘Krishi Vigyan Kendra’.

It is a myth that community radio (CR) stations are still a rural
phenomenon. In fact, facts and figures indicate the opposite.

LD Mandloi, Director General, All India Radio said, “Community radio makes
a syndicated format sound local and be locally visible.” As many as 35 CR
stations in India operate in urban areas. 2011-2012 saw 25 CR stations
being operationalised and 100 letters of intent issued (highest number so
far).

In a recent project, with the support of Schwab Charitable Fund, Galli
Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of educational children’s series Sesame
Street initiated a radiophone project to address the educational needs of
disenfranchised children through a convergence of technologies.

The radiophone project includes a localised Galli Galli Sim Sim educational
programme aired on 10 community radio stations. It features 60 brand new
Galli Galli Sim Sim radio episodes with a curricular focus on literacy,
math and healthy habits for life.

The project is reaching over 1.4 million people in partnership with 10
community radio stations in North India and Central India – Chamba and Supi
(Uttarakhand), Lalitpur (UP), Solan (HP), Mewat, Ghaghas and Gurgaon
(Haryana), and Orcha and Shivpuri (MP).

*Challenges*
CR stations face a number of serious obstacles making it very difficult for
them to survive in an atmosphere of low government support and recognition.
Only 126 community radio stations are active, while 370 licenses were
issued.

Some of the major challenges faced by community radio station include
non-availability of spectrum in local areas, low awareness, financial
constraints and unskilled manpower.

*Road ahead*
Community radio is in its initial stage; the Indian Government has set a
target of setting up 4,000 stations in the future. However, this initiative
can be materialized only if content, funding, manpower and licensing
concerns are addressed. Also, the local communities have to be empowered to
operate independently with minimum support from and reliance on the
Government. It is, therefore, important to consider community radio as an
alternative distribution platform for radio to entertain, create awareness
on social issues and address community needs.

*Compiled by Saloni Surti on the basis of CII-E&Y’s report on the Indian
radio industry named ‘Poised for growth: FM radio in India’*

**

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