Bimal Julka, Information and Broadcasting secretary said that the radio can play a major role in creating and spreading awareness about the flagship programs including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Swachh Bharat. While expressing the ministry’s support to Community Radio movement, he added that the medium has the ability to connect to the grassroots.
Julka praised states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh where the movement is prospering rapidly. He added that the flagship programs launched by the government such as Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Make inIndiawill be successful, but once you broadcast the information at the grassroots level. The basic idea with this approach is to create awareness about the programs on emerging technologies.
This was announced by the secretary while addressing at the fifth National Community Radio Sammelan. He spoke of the emerging ideas that are meant for the welfare of masses, draw attraction and participation if broadcasted via Community Radio. He added that this movement is an exceptional platform to get along with the local talent to the majority.
Julka added that to simplify and to modify the processes for grant of permissions to Community Radia, there are several ministries that sit on a platform on a monthly basis and they are deliberate on the proposals.
As Community Radio is a kind of a social movement, the government believes it can counsel and interact than simply rejecting the applications. For this reason, this move is called as an interactive and participative approach. He highlighted that the Community Radio stations can make sure that they follow high standards of broadcasting.
The secretary revealed that there are 170 Community Radio stations at present and more applications are awaiting approval. The medium has spread well in the regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as mentioned above. At the same time, it has not penetrated in the other states to that extent and this has to be looked into, added the secretary.
