New Community Media: A Case

of Community Radio

Dr A.S.Charyulu

No man is an island.

Community
The community can be
territorial or
geographical - a
township, village, district
or island. It can also be a
group of people with
common interests, who
are not necessarily living
in one defined territory.

New Community Media

Technologies
Internet Technologies Internet2

Web 2.0 Technologies

New Community Media

Technologies
Open Source Software

New Community Media

Technologies

Copyleft Creative Commons

Right to Information Act

New Community Media

Platforms

Blogs
Social Network Portals
RSS feeds
Podcasting
Open Repositories
Community of Practice
Community Radio
Participatory Video
Community T.V
Community Multimedia Centres

Podcast

Community Radio
Community Radio means
radio broadcasting with the
objective of serving the
cause of the community in
the service area by
involving members of the
community in the broadcast
of their programmes.

Community Radio
A community radio
station is one that is
operated in the
community, for the
community, about the
community and by the
community.

Community Radio
It affords a unique
advantage of receiving
transmission through
low cost, battery
operated portable
receiving sets.

Who Manage Community Radio

Community radio can
be managed or
controlled by one
group, by combined
groups, or of people
such as women,
children, farmers, fisher
folk, ethnic groups, or
senior citizens.

Characteristics of Community Radio

It encourages
participation
It offers the
opportunity to any
member of the
community to initiate
communication and
participate in program
making, management
and ownership of the
station.

Characteristics of Community
Radio

It uses technology
appropriate to the
economic capability of
the people, not that
which leads to
dependence on
external sources.

Characteristics of Community Radio

It is motivated by
community well being,
not commercial
considerations.
It promotes and
improves problem
solving.

Principles of Community Radio

Access
Participation
Self-management
Community mandate
Accountability

Who are eligible?

Non-profit organizations having
a proven record of at least three
years of service to the local
community
State Agricultural Universities
(SAUs), ICAR institutions and
Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Well established educational
institutions.

Rules for CR
License will be granted for FM transmitters
for power of 50 Watts or less.
The licensees shall furnish a bank guarantee
for a sum of Rs.25,000/- at the time of Grant
of Permission Agreement.
CRS should be designed to serve a specific
well defined Local community.

Rules for CR
It should have an ownership and management
structure that is reflective of the Community
that the CRS seeks to serve.
Programmes for broadcast should be relevant
to the educational, developmental, social and
cultural needs of the community.
It must be a legal entity i.e. it should be
registered under the Societies Act.

Procedure
The Universities/Deemed University or
Government run educational institution will
have a single window clearance by putting up
cases before an Inter Ministerial Committee
chaired by Secretary, I&B for approval.
In case of all other applicants, Letters of
Intent (LOI) will be issued only on receipt of
clearance from Ministries of Home Affairs,
Defence & HRD.

Equipment

Basic Equipment Approximate cost (US$)

1 unit 20-40 watt transmitter (exciter) 1,500
1 unit 100-watt booster 1,000
1 set Antenna system/single dipole 400
1 unit 12-channel/audio mixer 500
1 unit Amplifier 300
2 units Tape deck @ 500 1,000
1 unit CD player @ 200 400
3 units Karaoke 300
2 units Microphones @ 100 300
3 units Portable tape recorders @ 150 300
1 roll Floor stand mic/boom @ 15 30
1 unit Microphone cable 30
2 pcs. KG 1500 D AVR 250
2 pcs. Headphones @ 30 60
XLR connectors (male/female) 20
Total cost $6,390

Objective of the Community

Radio
The basic objective of the Community
Radio broadcasting would be to serve the
cause of the community in the service area
of the licensee by involving members of the
community in the broadcast of their
programmes.

Focus of Community Radio

The programmes on the community radio
service will focus on issues relating to
education, health, environment, agriculture
rural and community development. The
content must be confined to social,
cultural and local issues and the format,
subject, presentation and language must
reflect and exude the local flavour and
fragrance.

CR initiatives in India
Alternative for India Development-AID
project in Daltongunj (Jharkhand)
Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan-KMVS project
in Bhuj (Gujarat)
VOICES project in Budhikote (Karnataka)
Deccan Development Society-DDS project in
Pastapur (Andhra Pradesh)

Studio at Anna FM @ 90.4, Anna University, Chennai [Madras] (Photo:

courtesy of Andrea Borgnino)

Status of CR in India
Letter of Intent Holders
http://mib.nic.in/CRS/crsloi090508.htm
List of institutions / organisations applied for grant of
permission to set up community radio stations
http://mib.nic.in/CRS/WEBSTATUS220607.pdf
4000 community radio stations will have sprung up in
India by 2008 under the new enabling community
radio policy announced by the Government
Rules http://mib.nic.in/CRS/FAQ.htm
CRS packages http://mib.nic.in/CRS/FAQ.htm

CR in Agricultural Institutions
Indian Council of Agriculture Research
(ICAR) is eligible.
38 State Agriculture Universities
39 Central Research Institutes
18 National Research Centers
553 Krishi Vigyan Kendras

CR in Agricultural Institutions
KVK Baramati started FM community radio
dedicated to agriculture on 29 March, 2005.

CRS Services:
Market information
Day-today field operation of important crops and
major enterprises
Information on daily weather
Daily serial reading of a book on agriculture
Answering farmers questions by subject-matter
specialists

CR in Agricultural Institutions
CRS Services
Farmers school on radio, i.e. a serial on a crop or
enterprise
Disease forecasting
Interviewing a progressive farmer
Slot for subject matter specialist of State Agricultural
University or other research institute

CR in Agricultural Institutions
In February 2008.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bharsar, Pauri, Uttarakhand
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gwaldham.Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal,
Uttarakhand
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chiniyalisaur, Uttarkashi,
Uttarakhand
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jyolikot, Distt-Nainital, Uttarakhand
6. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lohaghat. P.O.Galchoura, DisttChampawat, Uttarakhand

CR in Agricultural Institutions
7. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jakhdhar, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
8. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand
9. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Harbatpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
10. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhanausi, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
11. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranikhet, Almora, Uttarakhand
12. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reddipalli, Anantapur, Andhra
Pradesh
13. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, Haryana
14. Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar-Bareilly,
Uttar Pradesh.

Where you know more on CR

Thanks