To benefit farming community, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has signed a grant of permission deal to establish a community radio station (CRS) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Babhaleshwar, Maharashtra.
The community radio station, which is 44th in the country, is likely to be operational by the next three months.

The CRS will take KVK programmes and activities to vast farming group and replicate the success stories with the intention that the benefit of information services raises the chance of income for the community that will be on target.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra CRS campus would cover up more than 815,000 people, which includes tribal population, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and other underprivileged segments of the society excluding general population.

Agriculture is a predominant enterprise practiced by the community.
In the meantime, Himachal Pradesh’s first wireless community radio station was launched in Solan district recently.
The community radio station was inaugurated by Asha Swaroop, Chief Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh at MS Panwar Institute of Communication and Management (MSPICM), Solan.

The total number of CRS operated by educational institutions plus non-governmental bodies has gone up to around 110 that consist of State Agricultural Institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
During December 2006, the Central Government liberalized the Policy on Community Radio by introducing the civil society and voluntary organizations, agricultural universities, ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras etc under its territory.

The government liberalized the policy to permit greater contribution by the civil society on subjects of growth and social change.
Previously, only educational institutions were allowed to start on community radio channels.