COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNITY RADIO SETS

Realising the importance of radio as a medium of communication the Government of Maharashtra introduced the Rural Broadcasting Contributory Scheme in this district also. Under this scheme the Directorate of Rural Broadcasting provides radio sets to rural institutions like grampanchayats, public libraries and municipalities. The Directorate not only installs the sets but also provides for their maintenance and servicing. Dry batteries arc provided to the battery radio sets.

The community radio sets are meant exclusively for the use of the public and the parties concerned arc required to tune radio programmes relayed from the Ail India Radio, and especially the programmes for the villagers and workers.

For the installation of a community radio set the parties concerned are required to contribute Rs. 150 for an electrical main operated set and Rs. 170 for a battery operated set. In addition they have to contribute Rs. 60 for maintenance which is inclusive of provision for battery and radio licence fee.

The benefits of this scheme are availed of to a considerable extent in this district. In 1965 there were as many as 350 community radio sets installed under the said scheme in Akola district. In the following table is given the tahsil-wise statistics of community radio sets in the district.

TABLE No. 4

Community Radio Sets Statistics, in Akola District

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