Centre to hike DAVP rate for community radio

In a boost to the community radio movement capturing rural voices across the country, the government has promised to help these stations double their budgets by providing advertisement-based funding equivalent to the amount each station can generate on its own.

Currently, community radio stations are paid only Re.1 per minute to carry advertisements from the Department of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). Speaking to station managers at the first Community Radio Sammelan on Thursday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni promised that this would change.

“I know that the Re. 1 per minute rate that DAVP offers you is shameful,” she said. “I have already asked my economic advisers in the Ministry to form a group to work out what the proper rate should be… But for all those who put in so much effort to generate your own funds, I promise that whatever you generate, the Ministry will put in an equal amount through DAVP advertisements.”

Ms. Soni asked all Members of Parliament to donate part of their Local Area Development funds of Rs.5 crore a year to help the community radio stations in their constituencies.

With a reach of just four km, community radio stations use local language and dialects, highlight local culture and talent and disseminate local news.

They also bring information about government schemes to the grassroots level and have proven to be a powerful tool in rural community development. About 75 per cent of those involved are women.

Apart from the 107 existing stations, the Ministry has issued letters of intent to more than 200 new stations which are likely to become operational next year.