Parliament Question: Community Radio Stations to encourage local community participation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3295 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026) COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL COMMUNITY

PARTICIPATION:

3295 DR. KANIMOZHI NVN SOMU:

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

(a) whether Government is implementing community radio stations to encourage local community participation in broadcasting especially in Tamil Nadu;

(b) if so, whether Government has established community radio stations in all the districts of Tamil Nadu;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken to make the stations more effective; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor and also the steps being taken to address the issue?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (Dr. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (d):

The Government promotes and supports community radios through the “Supporting Community Radio Movement in India” scheme. The objectives of the scheme are as follows:  To strengthen new and existing Community Radio Stations (CRSs) with resources, capacity and technology;

 To promote growth of community radio, particularly in remote and rural areas;  To facilitate socio-economic and cultural development by providing communities with a platform for local voices and participation in development processes.

The policy guidelines prescribe at least 50 percent of the content of Community Radio Stations is generated with community participation, with at least half of such content focusing on women empowerment.

There are 48 operational CRSs spreading over in 24 different districts of Tamil Nadu. The Government organizes workshops, seminars and regional/national sammelans for creating awareness and promoting knowledge sharing. Other support measures are aimed at strengthening the community radio stations and improving the sustainability of CRSs.

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