Chandigarh: The Punjab government has decided to encourage entrepreneurs to set up Community Radio Stations (CRS) in the state.

This has been decided keeping in tune with the central governments liberalised policy for granting permission in this regard to non-profit organisations having a proven record of at least three years of community service.Community Radio, as distinct from private FM broadcasting, serves to bring small communities together, focuses on the common man`s routine concerns and helps in realising local aspirations. These stations would focus on issues relating to education, health, environment, agriculture, rural and community development, a state government spokesman said here Monday.

Individuals, political parties and their affiliate organisations, profit-making bodies and other organisations banned by central or state governments will not be eligible for the new service. About terms and conditions, the spokesman said the permission agreement period for a CRS would be for five years and the permission letter would be non-transferable. With respect to religious programmes, the permission holder would have to avoid airing programmes that exploit religious susceptibilities and offend religious views and beliefs of a particular religion. Programmes aired should preferably be in Punjabi language and dialect, he said.He concluded by adding that the permission holder would provide the services of his CRS on free-to-air basis. The State Government would make special arrangements for monitoring and enforcement of advertisements, particularly in those areas where private FM radio stations have already been granted licenses.