Press Release:Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

Government Strengthens Community Radio Through Financial Support, Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

Community Radio Network Expands Nationwide with 540 Stations Sanctioned

Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 7:07PM by PIB Delhi

The government grants community radio licenses under a policy, which is available on the website: https://mib.gov.in/ministry/our-wings/broadcating-wing.

As per the policy, Community Radio Stations can be established by not-for-profit organizations with a proven record of three years of service to the local community. The policy mandates that the programmes aired by the Community Radio Stations should be relevant to the educational, developmental, social and cultural requirements of the community.

Government supports Community Radio Stations through financial assistance to establish, repair, and maintain community radio stations. Support is also provided during emergencies like floods, cyclones, or lightning damage.

Government is implementing a scheme called ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ with an outlay of Rs. 50 Cr. It is designed to strengthen existing and new Community Radio Stations.

The main features of the scheme are as follows:

Financial assistance to newly established CRSs after they have been operational for three months.
Stations operating for over five years receive support for renewing or replacing old equipment.
Training and awareness through workshops, webinars, and sammelans.
Stakeholder engagement through regional and national events to enable peer learning among CR stakeholders.

The Government has sanctioned 540 Community Radio Stations throughout the country. Out of these, 48 are in Tamil Nadu, spread over 24 districts. These stations have been undertaking significant work in the areas of disaster management, sea conservation, health and hygiene, among others.

During the last three financial years, a total sum of Rs. 40,03,098/- has been released to the Community Radio Stations located in Tamil Nadu.

This information was submitted by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, in the Lok Sabha.

About Community Radio

Community Radio represents an important third tier in radio broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Broadcasting and Commercial Radio. These are low power FM stations having maximum Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 100 Watts, expected to focus on local issues and are owned and managed by a community for the benefit of the community. The outreach of the station is approx. 10-15 Kms radius.

A community radio station is a locally operated radio station that is set up, managed, and operated by members of a specific community to serve the interests, culture, and needs of that community. There are 540 Commissioned Community Radio Stations in India as on date.

Programmes over Community Radio, besides being in the local dialect, can be made to suit the needs of the listeners. Indeed, it is an empowering experience for many of the marginalized sections in society to just be able to hear their own voices over the medium of the Community Radio. Remote communities, be they farmers, fisher folk, students or daily-wage workers, contribute regularly to this radio medium as their own. This is unimaginable on any other mainstream media. Naturally so, the programmes of preference cover topics such as health and hygiene, feedback pertaining to agriculture and fisher folk issues, road safety, water conservation, rain water harvesting, folk culture and life, as well as entertainment by local residents and students.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also streamlined process for setting up of Community Radio Stations and various approvals that the stations need to take. Applicants can now apply online on the Broadcast Seva Portal and track status of their pending application through the portal.

And to strengthen the Community Radio Sector, the Government of India approved a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) namely "Supporting Community Radio Movement in India". The various activities have been proposed under the scheme to achieve the following: -

i) To create awareness about the scheme by holding workshops to encourage more and more organizations to apply for setting up of CRS and greater reach of Community Radio Stations in media dark areas.

ii) To create capacity building of the prospective applicants.

iii) To strengthen both new and existing CRS with resources, capacity and technology, thereby increasing number and effectiveness of operational CRS.

iv) Handholding of CRS.

Under this scheme, the Ministry provides financial assistance between Rs. 15.60 Lakhs to Rs. 21.00 Lakhs in other than North East region and between Rs. 18.20 lakhs to Rs. 24 lakhs in North East region for setting-up of New CRSs with special focus on the use of green energy (solar) and women participation. Financial assistance upto Rs. 10.50 Lakhs and upto Rs. 11.10 Lakhs is also provided to existing CRSs in other than North East region and North East region respectively, for renewal or replacement of equipment. An emergency grant upto Rs. 11.50 Lakhs is also provided in extreme emergency situations like natural calamities, lightning, cyclone, etc. to cover damages caused to Community Radio Stations.

For the past many years, the Ministry has also been organizing Awareness Workshops in different parts of the country. These workshops have been successful in addressing issues concerning guidelines, application procedure, content and sustainability issues for CRS. These workshops have also proved to be useful not only to spread awareness but also build capacities of the NGOs and other organizations to operate Community Radio Stations in an effective way.

Community Radio Stations, by their very definition, confirm to this motto of leaving no one behind as these are people’s institutions at the grassroots that strive to give messages to the last person, while also giving this last individual the opportunity to voice his or her opinion, confirming to the right to free expression.

Finally, it is important to also commend the Community Radio Movement in the country for its yeoman service to the communities it has served. It is evident from the work of the Community Radio Stations of the Indian Community Radio sector has been working in the direction of the agenda for sustainable development.

Details of Community Radio Stations in Tamil Nadu:

S.No.	Name of Organization	Location of CRS	CRS DISTRICT	Name of CRS	Mail ID-1
1	Anna University	Anna University, guindyvaooab	Chennai	Anna FM	annacommunityradio[at]gmail[dot]com
2	Subbalakshmi Lakshmipathy College of Science	Shyamalavani Community Radio 90.4 MHz, TVR Nagar, Aruppukkottai Road, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625022	Madurai	Shyamalavani	ads@shyamalavani.in
3	Sri Aurobindo Society	Pudhiya Udhayam CRS, Saranac Training Centre, Bungalow Medu Junction, Perambai Panchayat, Villupuram Dt	Viluppuram	Pudiya Udayam Community Radio 91.2	senthil@aurosociety.org
4	Kongu Engineering College	THOPPUPALAYAM, PERUNDURAI, ERODE, TAMILNADU, INDIA 638060	ERODE	KONGU COMMUNITY RADIO	kongucrs@kongu.ac.in
5	M. O .P . Vaishnav college for women	No:20,IVth Lane, Nungambakkam High road, Nungambakkam,Chennai-600034	Chennai	M.O.P Comunity Radio Station	crsmop[at]gmail[dot]com
6	Erode Sengunthar Engineering College	No: 20, 4th Lane, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai - 600034.	ERODE	MUGIL CRS	contact@esec.ac.in
7	Loyola College	Sterling Rd, Nungambakkam	Chennai		icstreasuresj[at]gmail[dot]com
8	Peace Industrial School	Pasumai Community Radio,Sirumalai Palaiyur, Dindigul, TamilNadu	Dindigul	Pasumai community radio	chairman@peacetrust.in
9	Holy Cross College	HOLY CROSS COMMUNITY RADIO 90.4 MHZ, HOLY CROSS COLLEGE,TRICHY-2	Tiruchirappalli	HOLY CROSS COMMUNITY RADIO	holycross_communityradio@yahoo.com
10	SRM Institute of Science and Technology	Room no.608.A Hi-Tech block.kattankulathur.603203.Chengalpat district. Tamilnadu.	Chengalpattu	Muthucharam Community Radio	cr.muthucharam@90.4[at]gmail[dot]com
11	PSG College of Technology	The Principal, PSG COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY, AVINASHI ROAD, PEELAMEDU, COIMBATORE ,TAMIL NADU-641004	Coimbatore	PSG COMMUNITY RADIO	SEKARAN_53@REDIFFMAIL.COM
12	Aditanar College of Arts & Science	Virapandianpatnam	Thoothukudi	Sivanthi Community Radio	isehar_9307@yahoo.co.in
13	Dhan Foundation	Vanabathrakaliamman Street, Vizhunthamavadi, Keeahiyur Block, Nagapattinam	Nagapattinam	Kalanjiam Samuga Vanoli	kalanjiamvanoli[at]gmail[dot]com
14	PGP College of Engineering & Technology	PGP College Campus, NH-44,Karur main road, Namakkal-637207	Namakkal	PGP Community Radio	pgpcrs[at]gmail[dot]com
15	K.S. Rangasamy Educational Insitutions	Tiruchengode	Namakkal	KSR Community Radio	secretary@ksrct.ac.in
16	Tamilnadu Agricultural University	Lawley Road	Coimbatore	TNAU Vivasayee community Radio Station	Vc@tnau.ac.In
17	Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development	Chennai - Bangalore Highway, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 602105	Kanchipuram	Ilanthalir	surendrababu.rgniyd[at]gov[dot]in
18	Rathinam College of Arts & Science	Rathinavani 90.8 Community Radio, Rathinam College of Arts and Science, Rathinam Groups of Institutions, Coimbatore	Coimbatore	Rathinavani 90.8 Community Radio	mukesh.fm@rathinam.in
19	Madurai District Tank Farmers Federation	W5/565, Mdcc Bank First Floor, Trichy Road, Kottampatti, Melur Taluk	Madurai	Vayalaga Vanoli	vayalagavanoli[at]gmail[dot]com
20	AGN School	AGN School Community Radio Station, Appu Thottam, Konganapuram, Salem, Tamilnadu - 637102	SALEM	AGN SCHOOL COMMUNITY RADIO STATION	programs.agncrs[at]gmail[dot]com
21	SSM College of Engineering	SSM College of Engineering,NH 47,Salem main road,Komarapalayam,Namakkal(DT),638183	Namakkal	SSM COMMUNITY RADIO	crs@ssmce.ac.in
22	Nalamdana	Kadambam Apartment, 4/192, I Floor, Ellaiamman kovil street, Neelankarai, Chennai. 600115	Chennai	Thendral Community Radio	nalamdana[at]gmail[dot]com
23	VIT University	804, Silver Jubilee Tower	Vellore	VIT Community Radio 90.8	vitcr@vit.ac.in
24	Keystone Foundation	Radio Kotagiri 90.4 MHz, Keystone Foundation, Groves Hills Road, P.B.No- 35, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris, Tamilnadu.	Nilgiris	Radio Kotagiri 90.4 MHz	radio@keystone-foundation.org
25	Periyar Maniamai College of Technology for Women	Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology,Periyar Nagar,Vallam,Thanjavur 613403,Tamilnadu	Thanjavur	Periyar Community Radio	registrar@pmu.edu
26	Bannari Amman Institute of Technology	Alathukombai, Sathyamangalam, Erode Dt, Tamil Nadu-638401	Erode	Bannari Amman CR	crmanager@bitsathy.ac.in
27	Arasu Engineering College	Chennai main road,thiruvisanallur village, Arasu engineering college,Kumbakonam	Thanjavur	WSTN_ARASU FM	arasuengg@aec.org.in
28	Bullock Cart Workers Development Association (BWDA)	BWDA Community Radio,No 858 East pondy Road Villupuram	Viluppuram	BWDA 90.4 CRS	ashok.a@bwda.org.in
29	Imam Shafi (RAM) Matriculation Higher Secondery School	PATTUKKOTTAI ROAD, ADIRAMPATTINAM-614701, THANJAVUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU	Thanjavur	ADIRAI FM 90.4 CRS	904@adiraifm.in
30	Sakthi Medical trust	No:1, Om Sakthi Nagar Kpn Colony Extension	Tiruppur	Tirupur Pannbalai	sakthi.mtrust[at]gmail[dot]com
31	National Institute of Technology	NIT Trichy Community Radio Station, 3rd Floor, Central Library Building, National Institute of Technology, NH83 Tanjore Main Road, Tiruchirappalli / 620015	Tiruchirappalli	NIT Trichy Community Radio Station	nittcrsfm[at]gmail[dot]com
32	Nesakkarangal Charitable Trust	No. 125, Railway feeder road, Pamban	Ramanathapuram	Kadal Osai FM 90.4	kadalosaifmad[at]gmail[dot]com
33	TAMILNADU SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ORGANISATION	Plot No.: 39, Mura Bhavan, Koodal Nagar, Rajagopalapuram Post, Pudukkottai - 622 003, Tamil Nadu	Pudukkottai	Pudhugai FM 91.2 MHz	tnsroindia[at]gmail[dot]com
34	Sri Sankara Arts and Science College	SRUTHI COMMUNITY RADIO STATION 90.8MHz, SRI SANKARA ARTS & SCIENCE COLLEGE (CAMPUS), ENATHUR, KANCHIPURAM - 631 561.	KANCHIPURAM	SRUTHI CRS	krvsankara[at]gmail[dot]com
35	Velicham Trust	235/86S/2, Gandhipuram Bus Stop Near Kosavapatti, Thangachiyammapatti Post Oddanchatram, Taluk	Dindigul	Thoni CRS	velichamindia[at]gmail[dot]com
36	Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College	Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal Community Radio, ANJA COLLEGE, Srivilliputtur Road, Sivakasi 626124	Virudhunagar	Radio ANJA (Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal Radio)	anjacradio@anjaconline.org principal@anjaconline.org
37	Alagappa University	Alagappa University College of Education Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi	Sivaganga	Alagappa University Community Radio	registrar@alagappauniversity.ac.in
38	Manonmaniam Sundaranar University	Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli	Tirunelveli		registraroffice@msuniv.ac.in
39	E.G.S. Pillay Engineering College	Old Nagore Road, Thethi Village	Nagapattinam	EGS Pillay CRS 90.0	ceo@egspec.org
40	J.K.K.Munirajah College of Technology	J.K.K.Munirajah College of Technology, T.N.Palayam, P.O-Gobi (TK), Erode (DT), Tamil Nadu- 638506	Erode	JKKM COMMUNITY RADIO	principal309[at]gmail[dot]com
41	Wings Trust,Karur	SIRAGUGAL CRS 89.6, WINGS TRUST, 10/178,CA NIVAS, EAST STREET, PANCHAMADEVI -POST, KARUR - TK & DISTRICT. PIN 639 004,TAMILNADU	Karur	Siragugal CRS	rtnchidambaram[at]gmail[dot]com
42	Anand Institute of Higher Technology	Kalasalingam Nagar Old Mahabalipuram Road, Kazhipattur,	Kanchipuram	Anand Radio	anandradio@aiht.ac.in sankaramalligag.ece@aiht.ac.in
43	Alayam Welfare Trust	No. 18/1, Abirami Nagar,Kalvermalayam ,PO vandavalli City	Coimbatore	Alayam FM Radio 90.00Mhz.	crmanager@alayamtrust.com
44	Marutam Nelli Polytechnic College	Marutam Nelli Polytechnic College2/1, Pennagaram Main Road, Pallpatti,Nathahalli	Dharmapuri	RADIO MARUTAM (MARUTAM NELLI - 89.6)	marutamnellifm[at]gmail[dot]com
45	Valliappa Foundation	Rockies estate, Tipperary Road, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu 636601.	Salem	Sona FM – Namma Makkalin Kural	Subramanyam.k@valliappafoundation.org
46	Salem District Vannier Aakattalai	Ariyampalayam Village, Utthama, Chozhapuram Panchayat, Ariyanopor Post, Salem South Taluk, Salem, TamilNadu- 636308	Salem	Thoza FM	muthurv143[at]gmail[dot]com
47	Mahendra College of Engineering (erstwhile Maha College of Engineering)	Maha College of Engineering, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636106	Salem	Mahendra Community Radio Station 90.4	info@mahacollege.com
48	Devanayagi Educational trust	St. Paul’s Matric School, V Kotta Road, Permambut, Gudiyatham Taluk, Vellore District TamilNadu- 635810	Vellore	DNET CRS	sagaprasathkumar[at]gmail[dot]com

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Dharmendra Tewari\ Navin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2147951)

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