NEW DELHI: The Government has decided not to enforce the condition that community radio stations will need to send their recordings of broadcast through email for review on a regular basis.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Parliament that this decision taken in June 2015 has not been enforced as most stations did not find it convenient due to various reasons.

The Community Radio Stations, however, continue to preserve the recordings of broadcast material for a period of three months from date of broadcast under clause 8.1(a) of the Grant of Permission Agreement, signed between Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Permission holder. It also says that the station may produce it as and when required.

Meanwhile, Information & Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu noted in reply to another question that only 202 CRS are operational across the country.

Permission to set up CRS is granted to educational institutions, registered societies/NGOs and Krishi Vigyan Kendras/State Agricultural Universities under the Policy Guidelines for setting up of Community Radio Stations in India issued in 2006. Policy guidelines prescribe that the basic objective of the Community Radio broadcasting is to serve the cause of the community in the service area of the permission holder by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their programmes.

The programmes are of immediate relevance to the community. The emphasis of the programmes is on issues related to development, agriculture, health, education, environment, social welfare, community development and culture.
Awareness workshops are being organized by the Ministry to sensitize people about the community radio policy and create awareness amongst aspiring applicants about issues relating to setting up, operation & maintenance of Community Radios.

So far 79 awareness workshops have been organised across the country. Besides this, six National Sammelans have been organised for Community Radio operators, Government Ministries and Departments, UN organisations and other stakeholders for exchange of ideas and discussions.

The Ministry also provides financial support to new as well as existing CR Stations for purchase of equipment and for upgrading technology etc. Financial assistance for purchasing equipment is pr??
provided to licensee organization. No funds are allotted to states for development of CRSs. Policy Guidelines for setting up of CRS in India allows setting up of CRS in any part of the country including coastal regions, subject to fulfillment of eligibility criteria. Community Radio Stations, set up as per the policy, can also be effectively used for disseminating weather forecast for fishermen.