A day after a >missive went out to community radio stations from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry directing them to e-mail their content daily, its Secretary, Bimal Julka, clarified that the order was passed without consulting him. “Radio stations are not required to follow the order,” he said.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Julka regretted that the April 30 order was sent out.
“All that the radio stations will be obliged to do is to conform to the programme and advertising code,” he said, adding a senior official had jumped the gun. The Hindu had reported that the government was intimidating these radio stations by asking them to e-mail their content to the Ministry daily.
A day after a missive went out to community radio stations from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry directing them to email their content on a daily basis, its Secretary Bimal Julka clarified that the order was passed without consulting him.
“Radio stations are not required to follow the order,” he said. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Julka regretted that the April 30, 2015 order was sent out to the stations. “We want community radio stations to prosper and will continue to encourage them,” he added.
On a fresh order, Mr. Julka said his Ministry would follow it up soon. “All that the radio stations will be obliged to do is to conform to the programme and advertising code of the government,” he said, adding a senior official had jumped the gun. The Hindu had reported that the government was intimidating these radio stations by asking them to email their content to the Ministry daily. The order had asked for a complete recording in MP3 format along with the logbook and Q sheet.
Mr. Julka has since then clarified the radio stations are under no obligation to follow the order.
It may be recalled the Supreme Court is examining a petition filed by NGO, Common Cause, which seeks the court’s direction to allow news on radio, operators are currently barred from broadcasting their own news.
The Telecom Regulatory of India had recommended that community radio stations be allowed to broadcasting news from All India, Mr. Julka clarified the government does not seek to exercise control over community radios — an assurance that radio operators hope will be backed by real intent.
