India’s newly-elected government’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Ministry (MIB) is planning to study the reach and effectiveness of community radio stations in the country, says a report in Business Standard.

The ministry has started identifying a suitable agency to conduct a study to gauge direct or indirect benefits to the community.

The objectives of the study will include estimating listenership potential and reach of community radio stations and drawing up a socio-economic and demographic listener profile.

It will also gauge the extent and nature of participation of community in Community Radio Stations.

As of now, there are 170 functional Community Stations and another 250 in different stages of the licensing process.