NEW DELHI: The number of sanctioned community radio stations has risen to 65 with the government permitting the M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering in District Karur of  Tamil Nadu to operate a station.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry signed a Grant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating the Station. The Letter of Intent had been issued to the Institute after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries 

The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months, according to the agreement   

The M. Kumarsamy College of Engineering was established in 2000. The aim of setting up of Community Radio Station is to promote and provide education to the economically backward people and create awareness among the local community on child and human rights, culture and tradition, health hazards etc.

Although community radios were allowed since April 2005, 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.

The Government in late 2007 also announced that existing community radio operators can take advantage of the revised guidelines for new operators and get their broadcast permission extended to five years from three years.

In the new guidelines, limited advertising and announcements relating to local events, local businesses and services and employment opportunities shall be allowed. The maximum duration of such limited advertising will be restricted to Five minutes per hour of broadcast. The detailed Guidelines and proforma for application are available on this Ministry's website www.mib.nic.in