New Delhi: Even as 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement (GOPA) for setting up community radio stations in the country, the actual number of operational CRS is only 191after more than a decade of launch of this sector.

This shows an increase of only three community radio stations since the last list issued in November last year.

A total of 1050 applications for CRS had been either rejected as on 15 March.

However, another 272 applications are still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, Krishi Viguan Kendras and State Agriculture Universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

The operational stations include 107 by universities and private and government educational institutions, seventy by NGOs, eight by Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and six by State Agricultural Universities.

State-wise, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of CRS with 29, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 23. Maharashtra has 17, Madhya Pradesh has 14, and Karnataka has 15 stations. Nineteen other states and union territories have less than ten community radio stations each.

There are only three CRS in the northeast (all in Assam), and only one in J and K.

Though the scheme was launched around a decade earlier, the outreach of the Community Radio Stations was enhanced in 2006 to include non Governmental and Community based organizations with at least three years of legal existence.