>Couple of things: on what basis is the statement that BECIL 'has designed cost
>effective transmitters' borne out in the field?
>
>
>What strings are attached to the grants?
>
>
>How many politicians have readied their plans to launch 'independent community
>radio' stations to start feeding from the newly created trough?
>
>Vickram
>http://communicall.wordpress.com
>http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
>
>
>
>>________________________________
>> From: Arti Jaiman <[email protected]>
>>To: CR India <[email protected]>
>>Sent: Saturday, 9 June 2012, 14:31
>>Subject: [cr-india] Community radio gets Rs 50 mn for 2012-13
>>
>>
>>Community radio gets Rs 50 mn for 2012-13
>>
>>By BB NAGPAL
>>Indiantelevision.com Team
>>
>>
>>(7 June 2012 5:04 pm)
>>
>>
>>NEW DELHI: A Planned Scheme of "Supporting Community Movement in India" has
>>been conceived to provide grants to Community Radio Stations in the range of
>>Rs 100,000 to Rs 1.5 million depending on the purpose for which the
>>grant is sought.
>>
>>Under this scheme, a provision has been made to award grants
for infrastructure/ equipment to scale the growth of new
community
radio stations especially in remote and rural areas that
have
little access to media as well as stations managed by
disadvantaged
and marginalised communities.
>>
>>The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology,
while welcoming the move, wanted the Information and
Broadcasting
to take up the matter urgently with the Planning Commission
for its early clearance the plan is yet to receive
in-principle
approval.
>>
>>
>>The Ministry has requested a grant of Rs 1.5 billion. While the scheme has
>>been sent to Planning Commission for in-principle approval, an amount of Rs
>>50 million had been allocated in Budget Estimates 2012-13, out of which Rs
>>30 million has been earmarked for funding and Rs 20 million for IEC
>>(Information, Education and Communication) activities.
>>.
>>Asked why only Rs 50 million had been sanctioned when the
Ministry had sought Rs 1.5 billion, the Ministry told the
Committee that more funds will be requested after in
principle
approval and the Ministry is in touch with the Planning
Commission
in this connection.
>>
>>Apart from taking up the issue of adequate funds for the Scheme
during the Twelfth plan with Planning Commission, efforts
should also be made for full utilisation of Rs 50 million
allocated for the year 2012-13.
>>
>>Under the scheme, provision has been made to award grants
for infrastructure/equipment to scale the growth of new CRS
especially in remote and rural areas that have little
access
to media, as well as stations managed by disadvantaged and
marginalised communities.
>>
>>
>>Broadcasting Engineering Consultant India Ltd. (BECIL), a public
>>sector enterprise under the Ministry has designed cost
>>effective transmitters and antenna for CR stations. BECIL also helps CRS in
>>installation and maintenance throughout the country.
>>
>>The Committee said it was of the "strong view that lack
of financial support being a major hurdle in way of CR
expansion,
the Scheme will definitely bring good relief and encourage
those applicants who refrained from applying due to
financial
considerations".
>>
>>A Working Group set up by the Ministry to suggest a mechanism
to provide state funding to CRS had earlier suggested a
corpus
fund but this could not materialise due to Ministry of
Finance
Guidelines not allowing creation of fund either out of
revenue
or out of Government borrowing.
>>
>>The Committee observed that the Government had approved the
policy in 2002 for grant of licenses for setting up of CRS
to well established education, institutions including
IITs/IIMs.
>>
>>While 130 CRS are operational in the country, the Ministry
told the Committee that 1026 applications have been
received
since 2002 when the first policy of CRS was brought out.
Out
of 363 permissions issued so far, 165 Grant of permission
agreement (GOPA) have been signed and 268 applications are
under the consideration for grant of permission at various
stages.
>>
>>The Committee noted with concern that out of the 268 applications,
as many as 110 applications were pending with various
Ministries
such as Home, Defence, Human Resource Development; the
Wireless
Planning Commission wing of Department of
Telecommunications;
and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
>>
>>The Committee felt that the I&B Ministry being the sole
authority responsible for spread of CR Movement should
co-ordinate
with the concerned Ministries/agencies for early clearance
of pending applications so that community radio services
spread
fast in the country reaching out to large population.
>>
>>
>>Arti Jaiman
>>
>>Station Director : Gurgaon Ki Awaaz Samudayik Radio Station 107.8 MHz FM
>>email: [email protected]
>>website: www.trfindia.org
>>
>>Gurgaon Ki Awaaz is the first and only civil-society-led community radio
>>station in the National Capital Region of Delhi. Since 2009, we have been
>>broadcasting 22X7, in Hindi and Haryanvi, with a team of community reporters
>>who generate community content with community participation.
>>
>>Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
>>www.crforum.in
>>
>>
>
>
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
www.crforum.in
