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Trai urges broadbasing of community radio licence norms
NEW DELHI: Unfazed by a lukewarm response from the government to some of its earlier radical recommendations on broadcasting, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today suggested individuals and religious bodies should be allowed to obtain community radio licenses with riders and that such ventures be permitted to carry advertisements.
The present rules only allow educational institutions apply for community radio license and ads are a no-no.
Pointing out that community radio stations should be under Indian ownership and control, the sector regulator has said, Any legal entity, including individuals, should be eligible for grant of a community radio license.
In its recommendations on licensing issues related to community radio, Trai has further said, commercial advertising may be permitted. The rider: the duration of advertisements may be restricted to five minutes per hour of broadcast.
However, this restriction on advertising time should not apply to advertisements generated within the community and where the advertising revenue comes from one of the community members,Trai has said, hinting that such measures would help community radio ventures become financially viable.
But the regulator is against any sponsored programmes being aired via community radio stations.
Though the guidelines for community radio had been announced by former information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj over two years back with much fanfare, not much development had taken place owing to prohibitive regulations.
At present, there is only one operational such venture, which is run by the Anna University.
During the course of the consultation process for formulating recommendations on issues relating to the second phase of private FM radio broadcasting, a number of responses were received stressing on the need for
expansion of community radio.
Some of the major recommendations include the following:
-The current restriction on coverage of news and current affairs should be
lifted.
-Religious instruction/ preaching/ proselytising should not be permitted.
-There is no need to introduce any license fee.
-The ineligibility criteria listed in part-I of the Schedule to the Broadcast Bill, 1997 should be adopted with some qualifications.
-Religious bodies engaged in socio-economic developmental activities may be allowed to hold community radio license, provided the station would be used to promote socio- economic development of the community.
-An organisation/ body should not be disqualified merely because it receives public funds, as long as the management/ control over its affairs is not in the hands of the Central/ state government.
-The ministry of home affairs should give its recommendations/ clearance within three months from the last date of filing of applications.
-A license period of five years has been recommended with a provision for revocation of the license by the Government.Government funding/ grants for community radio stations is not been recommended.
-Commercial advertising may be permitted.
-Community radio stations should be permitted to accept grants/ funds as per the provisions of FCRA.
-The programme code of All India Radio and private commercial broadcasters should be applicable to the community radio stations.
-Programmes should be in local language/ dialect only and at least 50 per cent of the content should be generated by the community for which the station has been set up.
-Community radio stations should be permitted to share the broadcast infrastructure subject to the condition that at least 50 per cent of the total broadcast time shall be utilised by the licensee to broadcast its own programmes.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
