Community radio: Govt to grant license
	Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (Kolar):The Government of India has issued policy guidelines for the legitimisation of Community Radio in the country. It means that NGOs and other non-profit organisations will now be able to apply for broadcast licenses. It's a proud day for the people of Namma Dhwani, the community radio of Budhikote village in Kolar district of Karnataka. For 11 years they have been using loud speakers and a local cable channel to disseminate their news and information to the local community. Now, by a new policy announcement the Government has legitimised Community Radio in the country. "So far we've had a two tier radio structure in place, public and private. This enables us to have a separate policy. Community Radio enabling public, private and community to all operate side by side," said Ashish Sen, Director. License to transmit Namma Dhwani will get a license to transmit over the airwaves and reach numerous people in the farming community of the area. An offshoot of this policy is to grant permission for Campus Radio, which will help establish micro communities countrywide. Shree Ramanna Maharishi Academy for the Blind is one such institution that will use this license to benefit disabled communities. "Really it is a very good media through which even a layman can understand how we can work in this society. And it is very much helpful for people with disabilities to bring them into the mainstream of society," said G S Lakshmana Iyer, Shree Ramanna Maharishi Academy. The question now is how quickly will the government act to facilitate the licensing procedure, so that radio broadcasts can benefit communities across the country.