India’s broadcasting ministry has launched a five year plan to subsidise community radio stations.

The Community Radio Support Scheme will allow broadcasters to apply for fund to recoup up to 50 percent of the cost  of transmitter and studio equipment.

The maximum any one station can claim is US$12,000 (Rs 7.50 lakh), reports the Media Mughals website.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has created a technical committee which has set benchmarks for community radio broadcasting equipment to meet.  

The committee is headed by All India Radio’s (AIR) former Engineer-in-Chief VK Singla.