Community radio in India: a critique of broadcast policy

Community radio labeled variedly as alternative media,grassroots media, local media or radical media is symbolic of democratization of communication with intangible power to enhance participation of masses in the process of development and social change. India, with a liberal media policy hesitated to open its broadcasting spectrum to the private ownership citing reasons of internal security, communal riots, terrorism and militant conflicts. However, the historic judgment of Apex Court in 2002 freed air signals from government clutches opening doors to privatecommercial radio. Ironically, the cause of social justice suffered as mass media were driven by market forces compelling government to embrace the community radio movement and issue licenses to anybody to establish radio to serve the local people. This paper critically reviews the vital issues viz., ownership, participation, programming and financial sustainability concerning operating CRS in India. The study concludes that the vision of Government of India to establish CRS since 2007 every mile in thousands has failed to materialize as the policy suffers from many shortcomings. Privatization of broadcasting has paradoxically brought the private players back to the doors of the government for financial succor, says the study