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

The CRS is expected to be operational within three months. With this, India will have 44 community radio stations.

The community radio to be established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Babhaleshwar is intended to further take the programmes and activities of KVK to wider farming community and replicate the success stories so that the benefit of information services increases the livelihood opportunities for the target community.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra CRS campus would serve a population of over 815,000 that comprises tribal population, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and other disadvantaged sections of the society apart from general population. Agriculture is a predominant enterprise practiced by the community.

The total number of CRS operated by educational institutions and non-governmental bodies has risen to almost 110 which includes State Agricultural Institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

The Central Government in December 2006 had liberalized 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 liberalized to allow greater participation by the civil society on issues of development and social change. Earlier, only educational institutions were permitted to launch community radio channels.