Besides, it would help revive local and
folk art and provide employment to local youths. The
state government feels that this would discourage
migration. These community radios are handy tool at
the time of the disaster management.
According to the secretary of the Information and
Public Relations Department, Rajesh Bhushan, the state
government has already applied for licence and the
decision is pending with the Centre. Once the licence
is issued, the state will set up FM broadcasting
stations at selected schools that will relay
programmes related to local issues, fairs etc. The
core programming will be done in Patna while
peripheral programming in districts.
Reports carried in a daily said that the capital cost
for setting up one Community Radio Station (CRS),
including equipment and installation charges, is Rs
4.80 lakh. The cost of studio, which would be
optional, would be Rs 2.30 lakh. The operational cost
per CRS, as worked out by the government, is Rs 46,965
per month while the expected monthly revenue per CRS
is Rs 50,400.
Sixty per cent of the cost will be borne by the human
resources development department of the state and the
remaining will be taken as loan from banks, Bhushan
told the daily.
He said the community radio can contribute to social,
economic, cultural and political development of the
state. Besides, personal and community announcements
can be broadcast. The radio station can serve as a
community telephone or bulletin board, apart from
providing entertainment through radio theatre.
