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National consultation on community radio convened in India

28-12-2010 (New Delhi)
National consultation on community radio convened in India
National consultation
on community radio
© UNESCO
UNESCO, in partnership with the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcast (MIB), the Community Radio Forum (CRF) and the Ford Foundation, convened the 3rd Indian National Consultation on Community Radio. The event took place from 13 to 15 December 2010 at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi.
The purpose of the consultation was to bring about an informed debate about the policy and administrative changes that are necessary to overcome challenges being faced by community radio stations today. The consultation aimed at carving out a new roadmap for mainstreaming community radio as an effective outreach tool, also empowering disadvantaged communities. The discussions focused on such issues as streamlining the licensing process; funding and sustainability; capacity building and appropriate technology, roles of different stakeholders in strengthening the community radio movement.

The event brought together community broadcasters and community members already engaged in grassroots initiatives, non-governmental organizations, government officials and policy makers, academics, UN agencies, and bilateral donors, who discussed the future of the community radio in the Indian sub-continent.

Resource persons from Asia and other parts of the world shared their experiences and models of best practice related to community radio management and sustainability, as well as to technical requirements. Participants were engaged in discussions that helped design joint strategies and define the role of stakeholders in strengthening the community radio movement.

Since the announcement of the first phase of the community radio policy in 2003 and, subsequently, of the second one in 2006, permitting community-based organizations to enter the field, over 90 operational radio stations have been licensed in India.

Raghu Menon, from the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized in his inaugural address that community radio has to be a two-way medium so that people can make better use of the information being imparted. He also expressed hope that community radio stations that have already come up in the country will begin exchanging programmes to enhance their effectiveness. According to Menon, community radios should not be funded by the government or donors, but should create a system of seed money to ensure their own sustainability.

UNESCO’s Director of the Communication Development Division, W. Jayaweera, stated that the growth of community radio movement could be facilitated by sharing and incorporating the best practices of other countries. This includes indicators that facilitate growth, such as affordable licenses, special quotas within the spectrum for community radio operations and special pricing for community radio tools and equipment.

Mr Jayaweera emphasized, that the consultation is taking place at a time when India has taken the global leadership in fostering free, independent and pluralistic media. Earlier this year India was elected to chair UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the only multilateral forum within the UN system that supports media development in developing countries.
National consultation on community radio convened in India National consultation on community radio
© UNESCO

Related themes/countries

      · India
      · Community Media
      · International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)
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