MUMBAI: In a move aimed at encouraging more community radio stations in India, the ministry of Information and Broadcasting is organising a series of state-level workshops across the country.

The ministry has already held three consultations in November at Rajashthan, Shillong and Haryana. Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia are the facilitators for the workshop.

Says CEMCA director Dr R Sreedher, The idea is to take the concept of community radio to the grassroots level and these workshops become a platform for interested CR applicants to meet the government officials, the screening committee, get acquainted with the technical know-how and share experiences of operational community radio stations in the region.... These workshops are attended by technical providers including Nomad India, BECIL, BEL, WEBEL, HCL and Tata  

The next State-level consultations, capacity building workshops and screening committee meetings will be held as follows:

* Fourth State level consultation, capacity building and screening committee meeting - in association with One World South Asia at Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh - 18 and 19 December 2009.

* Fifth State level consultation, capacity building, and screening committee meeting - in association with Aditanar College of Arts and Science, Tiruchendur,Tamilnadu - on 22nd and 23rd December 2009.

* Sixth State level consultation, capacity building and screening committee meeting - in Wayanad, Kerala on 4th and 5th January 2010.

* Seventh State level consultation, capacity building and screening committee meeting - in association with MYRADA during last week of January 2010 at Bhudikote, Karnataka.

* Eigth State level consultation , capacity building and Screening committee meeting - in Goa - Early February 2010.

* Ninth State level consultation, capacity Building and screening committee meeting - in Maharashtra - Early February 2010.

* Tenth State level consultation, capacity building and screening committee meeting - in Tehri Garwal, Uttarakhand in association with TERI - early March 2010.

This initiative funded by MIB is part of the eleventh five year plan 2007-2012 to create awareness about community radio stations at a national and state level. According to Information and Broadcast Ministry website, the ministry has received 100 applications, out of which 60 Letter of Intent has been issued. The ministry has signed agreement with 36 applicants and 19 community radio stations are operational in the country.