Question : Community Radio Station

a) the schemes being run by the Government to encourage Community Radio Stations throughout the country including Chhattisgarh;

b) the number of applications received from Chhattisgarh State for Community Radio Stations and the number of places in Chhattisgarh where the Government has given permission for operating Community Radio Stations;

c) the names of places in Chhattisgarh where the proposals for setting up of Community Radio Stations are pending and the reasons therefor;

d) the time by which the Government is likely to take decision on the pending proposals;

e) whether least number of Community Radio Stations are functional in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Jharkhand, if so, the reasons therefor; and

f) the details of the assistance being provided by the Government to facilitate setting up of a Community Radio Station?

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) The Government has approved a scheme namely “Supporting Community Radio Movement in India” to strengthen the Community Radio Sector in the country. The scheme covers all areas of all the States/UTs including Chhattisgarh.

b) The number of applications received from Chhattisgarh State for Community Radio Stations are 51 and the number of places where the Government has given permission to set up CR Stations are 26. Applications for 25 places have been rejected by Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) due to non-eligibility /non-availability of clearances from different Ministries.

c) & d) NIL.

e) & f) A total of 14 Community Radio Stations are functional in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Setting up of Community Radio Station is a voluntary activity. The organizations such as NGOs, Educational Institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras are eligible for setting up of CR station in the interest of their community.

To encourage the eligible organizations, the Government organizes awareness workshops for helping the organizations in setting up of Community Radio Stations. Further, under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for setting up of Community Radio Stations. The grant provided is 75% of total expenditure incurred in setting up of CR station subject to a ceiling of Rs. 7.5 lakh. Further, in North Eastern areas, the financial assistance is provided to the tune of 90% of total expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs. 7.5 lakh.

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