MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has signed a Grant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at Nuh, Mewat, Haryana. The station will be run by The Seeking Modern Application for Real Transformation (SMART), New Delhi.

According to a government release, a Letter of Intent had been issued to the NGO on 13 June 2008 for seeking allotment of frequency from Wireless Planning Coordination Wing. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement.

Seeking Modern Application for Real Transformation (SMART), New Delhi is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) engaged in the processes development of communities through Information and Communication Technologies as a development tool. SMART believes in promoting community radio as a catalyst in the development of rural and under privileged urban communities particularly women, the release says.

The government has speeded up the process of clearing applications for the setting up of community radio stations in the country.

Gurgaon based NGO, TRF (The Restoring Force) would be soon launching its community radio in Udyog Vihar, villages of Garhi Harsaru, Dhankot. The NGO received its letter of intent in August 2008 and will be commencing operations soon.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also given the nod for setting up a community radio station (CRS) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Babhaleshwar (Ahmednagar district), in Maharashtra last week.

Hamara MSPICM 90.4 FM, Himachal Pradesh's first community radio - a venture floated by the M S Panwar Institute of Communication and Management (MSPICM) was launched in Solan district on Friday.

In the last week of February 2009, �Kisanvaani 90.4', a community radio in Sironj, Madhya Pradesh an initiative by Delhi based NGO Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) has signed the GOPA (Grant of Permission Agreement).

The number of CR stations to become operational in the country within the next few months is now approaching 50.