'Need to streamline operation of community radio system'

Government's efforts to promote community radio have been hindered by complex procedures to operate them and there is a need to streamline them, the Information and Broadcasting Secretary said today.
"I am deeply concerned about the complex procedure for obtaining permission to set up a community radio station. I think it goes from one clearance to another clearance and its a very long and arduous process," I&B secretary Bimal Julka said.
Speaking at a Community Radio station here, he said there is need to streamline the system and make it easier for those who want to run community radio stations.

Officials said that under the present system, applicants have to seek various permissions from Home ministry, Ministry of Defence, the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing and other ministries like the Ministry of Human Resource Development or Agriculture in certain cases.
The multiplicity of authorities, they said, made the task of those desirous of starting Community Radio Stations arduous, they said.
Officials said the ministry had been trying to promote Community Radio in the country and is now also granting permission for running such stations in Naxal-hit regions.
A senior official said that recently around 6 community radio stations had been approved in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh while two such stations had been approved for such areas in Jharkhand.