Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that India is a land of diversity in terms of language, social practices, dialects and culture, adding community radio can be a powerful tool to revive culture and languages that are dying.
Jaitley, who inaugurated the sixth National Community Radio Sammelan here, said the community radio can also be useful in promoting health and education.
He said radio, which is one of the oldest broadcasting mediums, has to be encouraged as it reaches easily to the larger section of the society.
The Union Minister further said 191 community radio stations are currently working and more than 400 new stations have been permitted.
He said the growth of community radio will be visible in the next few months.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said community radio can play a vital role to empower the people and to inform them about the government's plans and policies.
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He said the government is doing everything to promote community radio across the country.
The conference will bring together community radio operators, policy makers, ministries, departments, international bodies like UNICEF and UNESCO and other stakeholders for exchange of ideas and cross learning.
The meet will also hold talks on community radio movement in the country and its role in setting the agenda for discourse on development at the local level.
The three-day conference will also discuss on issues such as role of community radios in good governance and community learning and promoting livelihoods, water conservation, financial inclusion and literacy.