Parliament Question: Supporting Community Radio Movement in India

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 740 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026)

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY RADIO MOVEMENT IN INDIA:

740 SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

SHRI ANANTA NAYAK:

SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a) Whether the Government has assessed the impact of financial and technological support

provided under the scheme for Supporting Community Radio Movement in India on outreach in rural, tribal and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State and district-wise, particularly in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh;

(c) the steps being taken by the Government to address the challenges related to broadcasting, financial resources, human resources and technical operations faced by the Community Radio Stations particularly operating in Chhindwara and surrounding tribal-dominated areas;

(d) whether any measures are being considered to enhance community participation and ensure the long term viability of Community Radio as a tool for local development and social mobilisation by increasing the participation of local youth, women’s groups and voluntarily organisations; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (e):

The Government supports Community Radio Stations (CRSs) through financial assistance for procurement of broadcast and studio equipment, training and capacity-building programmes, technical handholding, and content development. It implements a scheme called ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ to strengthen existing and establish new CRSs. To provide technical support and facilitate capacity building of CRSs, the Government organizes national and regional sammelans in various parts of the country.

In Madhya Pradesh, 17 CRSs have been supported through financial grants by the ministry. No proposal for financial assistance has been received in this Ministry from any CRS in Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh.

The Government regularly assesses the impact of financial and technological support under the scheme through periodic monitoring, utilisation reports, inspections and third-party evaluations. The scheme has enhanced the outreach of Community Radio Stations in rural, tribal and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas through localised content, community participation and capacity building.

As per policy guidelines, at least 50% of the content of Community Radio Stations is mandatorily generated with community participation, with at least half of such content focusing on women empowerment.

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