NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah today said Community Radio is a useful communication medium to cater to the information needs of the people in local language/dialect.

CR Stations broadcast programmes on various issues which are of immediate relevance to the community and facilitate development by disseminating information regarding education, rural development, agriculture, health, nutrition environmental, social welfare, Panchayati Raj issues and cultural needs. Community Radios (CR) have potential to bring a very significant positive social change at the community level.

Addressing the meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament on the specific subject of CRS, he said also works as a powerful means for rural empowerment, upliftment of dalits and women. Minister of State for I&B Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Secretary Ajay Mittal, and senior officers of the Ministry were also present.

Naidu apprised the members about the various steps and initiatives being taken by the Ministry to promote community radio movement in the country. He said the Ministry had recently enhanced the subsidy amount for setting up of Community Radio Stations from 50 per cent to 90 per cent in the North Eastern States and 75 per cent in other States, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 750,000 with a view to promote community radio tool as an effective medium of communication.

Members gave some suggestions in enhancing the reach and generating awareness about this medium of communication. They also mentioned the need to fast track and streamline the clearances process for setting up of CRS in the country.

A presentation was made by Additional Secretary, Jayshree Mukherjee on behalf of the Ministry giving an overview of the Community Radio sector in the country.

Parliamentarians Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Vivek Gupta, Ms Dev (Moon Moon Sen) Varma, Harivansh, Madhusudan Mistry, Prabhat Jha and Neeraj Shekhar attended the meeting.