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NEW
DELHI: The number of sanctioned community radio stations rose
to 65 with the government permitting M Kumarasamy College
of Engineering in district Karur of Tamil Nadu to operate
a station.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry signed a Grant of
Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating
the Station. The Letter of Intent had been issued to the Institute
after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking
requisite clearances from various ministries.
The
Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within
three months, according to the agreement.
M Kumarsamy College of Engineering was established in 2000.
The aim of setting up of Community Radio Station is to promote
and provide education to the economically backward people
and create awareness among the local community on child and
human rights, culture and tradition, health hazards etc.
Although
community radios were allowed since April 2005, the Central
Government in December 2006 had liberalized the Policy on
Community Radio by bringing in the civil society and voluntary
organizations, agricultural universities, ICAR institutions
and Krishi Vigyan Kendras under its ambit. The policy was
liberalised to allow greater participation by the civil society
on issues of development and social change. Earlier, only
educational institutions were permitted to launch community
radio channels.
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