NEW DELHI: Even as the Government announced a Rs 100 crore programme to help the growth of community radio, it has invited Request for Proposal for selection of a consulting agency to conduct a study on listenership, reach and effectiveness of community radio stations in India.

The purpose of the RFP is to select a consulting agency to conduct a study by way of tangible and or intangible, direct or indirect benefits to the community.

The objectives are to estimate listenership and reach in the CRS community; drawing up a socio-economic and demographic profile of listeners; find out reasons for listening and not listening and gauge extent and nature of participation of community in the CRS; using CRS as platform to identify and promote local talent and culture; assess effectiveness of CRS in providing tangible and intangible, direct and indirect benefits to the community like creating awareness about relevant local issues, providing useful information, promote a rights based perspective, and role played in disaster management and more.

The announcement for bids will come on 13 July, and there will be a pre-bid conference on 25 July. The issuance of the final RFP will be on 1 August and the last date for submission of bids will be on 29 August, with eligible bids being opened on the same day.

The contract will be awarded on 30 September and the work has to be done within 120 days. The final presentation will be on 31 January next year and the government will announce its acceptance or otherwise on 27 February.

The Government, in December 2002, approved a policy to allow commuity radio stations to well established educational institutions. The guidelines was amended in 2006 to include NGOs under its ambit in order to allow greater participation by the civil society on issues relating to development and social change.