The Centre is considering complete waiver of annual spectrum fee charged from community radio operators against the radio wave allocations. On the concluding day of the third community radio sammelan in New Delhi today, Infomation and Boradcasting Minister Manish Tewari said that a suggestion has been sent to Ministry of telecommunications in this regard.

He said that during the 12th five year plan One hundred crore rupees have been provided to the development of community radio in the country. The Minister said that this initiative is for installation of more than five hundred community radios upto 2017. Mr Tewari said that in the total ammout of one hundere crore rupees, 10 crore rupees have been provided for the training and capacity building of community radios only.

He also gave away the community radio awards in various categories. Noting the importance of community radio in disseminating information, the Minister said the community radio operators can do a good job in addressing the local issues pertaining to various communities and villages.