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NEW
DELHI: For the first time, the Information and Broadcasting
Ministry has launched a community radio in collaboration with
the non-governmental Society for Development Alternatives.
The
radio was launched yesterday at Taragram, Orchha, in Bundelkhand
region of Madhya Pradesh. This has become possible after the
Ministry’s permission to the Society, a Delhi based NGO,
to establish, maintain and operate a Community Radio.
A
total of 34 NGOs have so far got the Ministry’s permission
to set up and operate Community Radio Stations in different
parts of the country.
The
Society for Development Alternatives, among other things,
is engaged in Natural Resource Management in the region through
a range of activities involving conversion of wasteland to
productive land, water conservation and promotion of appropriate
farming practices and livestock management.
Besides,
the society is developing partnerships and alliances with
banks, research institutes, government departments, panchayats
and civil society organizations to ensure convergence of developmental
goals in Bundelkhand.
The
Central Government in December 2006 had liberalised the Policy
on Community Radio by bringing in the civil society and voluntary
organizations, agricultural universities, ICAR institutions,
Krishi Vigyan Kendras, etc, under its ambit. The policy was
liberalised to allow greater participation by the civil society
on issues of development and social change.
The
Community Radio initiative is aimed at empowering women, youth
and marginalised groups to take part in local self-governance
and overall socio-economic and cultural development of the
area.
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