Page 36 - NIS English December1-15

Communication
Community Radio

Community Radio

TRACKING THE REMOTEST REGION

Persistent efforts of the Government toward promoting community

radio stations across the country immensely helped in reaching out to
the people living in the remotest areas thereby helping them through

development schemes and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

hile there is no dearth of mediums of mode of communication. The Prime Minister,
communication for people living in in his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat
Wthe urban areas, but there are many in November, 2018 recalled an incident from
pockets in tribal and rural areas of the country 1998 when he was a BJP worker in Himachal
which are still struggling for a reliable medium of Pradesh. He found a tea seller celebrating
communication. In such a situation, community India’s nuclear test alone there. The tea seller
radio serves as an important tool with the got to know about the news from radio and he
country now having around 310 community radio shared the same with the Prime Minister. He said
stations. it was a matter of great intrigue to see a lone tea
Even in the time of Coronavirus pandemic, seller in a remote, snow-clad hilly place listening
these stations of regional languages helped a lot to the radio for the entire day. The Prime
disseminating information and awareness about Minister said the incident made him realise the
it. Realising the power of these stations, serving power of radio as a medium to connect with
nearly 10 Crore people, the Government has the masses.
decided to increase their numbers. Soon, 276 At least, 310 community radios are serving in
new community radio stations will be started. the remote areas which do not have the reach
There is a proposal for additional 500 community of All India Radio and DD. During Coronavirus
radio stations across the country by 2025. pandemic, community radios also used to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes broadcast content for students as schools were
that radio is a strong and powerful medium closed. Union Information and Broadcasting
connected to the common man. He believes that Minister Prakash Javadekar emphasised on the
there is no comparison of radio with any other platform so that the Government can reach to

34 New India Samachar