Communication has played a key role in the development process in almost all the Ccountries. But in order to make communication an effective tool for development choice of proper medium becomes important. It is sad but true that we have not succeeded in fully exploiting the most suitable media that can prove to be very helpful for the purpose. This is community radio.

Radio is the most suitable medium to motivate individuals in a country like India where large masses of people are illiterate. They cannot make use of print media. India has been unreasonably reluctant to democratize her broadcasting system especially when it comes to radio. Till last year other than the government only the educational institutions and large private organizations were allowed to own radio stations.

The new policy regulating the use of community radio came as a much-needed relief for the NGOs and other organizations that were battling for the cause for quite sometime. Community radio is a very popular concept in west. Several neighbouring countries of India including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have already used the concept to their benefit.

The community radio stations are not allowed to air new and current affair programmes. This right still remains only with All India Radio (AIR) and its channels. This is in direct contrast with television where private channels are permitted to telecast news as well as current affair programmes. Small communities basically run community radio stations. It is a small-scale operation. The stations have a very limited reach. This medium has an advantage over large-scale media. Large-scale media takes a macroscopic view of issues. Community radio is more microscopic in nature. It concentrates on small pockets of people, their problems and concerns. It gives the marginalized a chance to air their opinions and suggestions.

Due to its microscopic nature the community radio can play a crucial role in development-oriented communication. Also, the community radio is cheaper than the large-scale media.