IIMC to provide training for setting up & running of Community Radio Stations

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) is planning to provide consultancy and training to set up community radio stations from this year onwards. The consultancy will provide aesthetic knowledge of setting up of the Community Radio services. The decision to start such consultations was taken up in the Executive Council meeting recently.

The institute will now decide on the areas in which setting up of Community Radio stations is necessary and will provide knowledge regarding the set up and running of the same. Right from the purchasing of equipment to that of hiring expert people to offer consultancy, IIMC will bear everything on its own. It is dedicated to provide all the facilities to set up the community radio stations to the places it is required the most.

The executive meeting of IIMC was chaired by the Secretary of Information and Broadcasting and IIMC Chairman Mr. Ajay Mittal. Commenting on the sorry state of community radio stations in the country he said, there are many institutes in the country who have got their licenses to run Community Radio stations, but it is due to the lack of professional knowledge they are not being able to begin operation for the same.

The IIMC has its own community radio station, which has been operating since 2006 and is doing significantly good. The station has developed meaning content to address the locality and their problems along with mobilizing the local community on issues pertaining to their concern.

According to the Director General of IIMC, KG Suresh, “The expertise of Indian Institute of Mass Communication can be efficiently used in training HR on community radio.”