Priya encourages setting up Community Radio Stns in rural Bengal

Kolkata, Mar 24 (UNI) Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi today encouraged universities to set up economically viable Community Radio Stations(CRS) across rural Bengal.

After inaugurating the Second Regional Consultative Meet on Community Radio and Test Transmission of community radio at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, the Union Minister said, ''All districts in the state will be covered by FM under the 11th Five Year Plan.'' He said the Community Radio Stations should be made economically viable and rural advertisements channelised for rural broadcasts to attain maximum reach and coverage in the rural areas.

While speaking on the scope of such broadcasts, Mr Dasmunsi said the scope of these programmes need to be widened and the cost decreased to ensure access to more rural population.

Furthermore, he asserted that Self Help Groups(SHGs) should come forward with sufficient resources in setting up the CRS for broadcasting rural-based programmes, which will be both informative and entertaining for the rural audience.

State IT Minister Debesh Das, who was also present on the occasion said, ''All universities across the state should follow the example of Jadavpur University in setting up the CRS in all the districts and allot a part of their resources for the development of the community audience.'' Others present at the inaugural function included Vice-Chancellor of Jadavpur University P N Ghosh, Joint Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Zohra Chatterji and Director of Commonwealth Education Media Centre for Asia R Sreedher.

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