Govt sanctioned over Rs 5 cr since FY'21 towards community radio: L. Murugan

While replying to concerns raised by Kesineni Sivanath, Murugan mentioned that as of 27th March 2025, the Government has sanctioned 532 Community Radio Stations across the country

by e4m Staff
Published: Apr 2, 2025 5:17 PM | 2 min read

The government has sanctioned and released funding under the Central Sector Scheme of Supporting Community Radio Movement in India amounting to Rs 5.43 crore in the last three years (FY21-24), L. Murugan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting mentioned in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

While replying to concerns raised by Kesineni Sivanath, Murugan mentioned, “As of 27th March 2025, Government has sanctioned 532 Community Radio Stations across the country. The Government also regularly organizes workshops for promoting Community Radios and has organized 5 such workshops around the country so far in 2025.”

The funds sanctioned and released over the three years were as follows: Rs. 1.30 crore in 2021-22, Rs. 1.53 crore in 2022-23, and Rs. 2.60 crore in 2023-24.

He also specified the funds sanctioned for each state and union territory, wherein Andhra Pradesh received Rs. 10 lakh, Bihar received Rs. 4.11 lakh, Chhattisgarh received Rs. 27.50 lakh, Haryana received Rs. 13.16 lakh, Karnataka received Rs. 64.68 lakh, Kerala received Rs. 31.41 lakh, Ladakh received Rs. 10 lakh, and Madhya Pradesh received Rs. 65 lakh.

Furthermore, Maharashtra received Rs. 77.50 lakh, Nagaland received Rs. 12 lakh, Odisha received Rs. 63.99 lakh, Rajasthan received Rs. 30 lakh, Sikkim received Rs. 6.80 lakh, Tamil Nadu received Rs. 25.73 lakh, Telangana received Rs. 5.16 lakh, Uttar Pradesh received Rs. 77.84 lakh, and Uttarakhand received Rs. 20 lakh.

The Government of India had approved the Central Sector Scheme titled "Supporting Community Radio Movement in India" with an outlay of Rs 50 crore for a five-year period from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026.

The scheme aims to strengthen both new and existing Community Radio Stations (CRSs) by providing resources, capacity, and technology to promote their growth, especially in remote and rural areas, thereby facilitating socio-economic and cultural development within communities.