Community Radio (CR) is an important third tier in radio broadcasting, distinct from public service and commercial media. In the last few years, this sector has been growing slowly but effectively in India. Community Radio Stations (CRS) are essentially low power radio stations which are meant to be set up and operated by the local communities. CRS permissions in India are granted to educational institutions, agricultural institutions and civil society organizations that are not-for-profit organisations.

Community Radio stations have an important role to play not only in giving local communities a voice to make themselves heard, but also to deliver timely, accurate and useful information to people affected by emergencies. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the life-saving function of timely information is taken seriously by the audience of community radio stations and this facilitates open debate as well as creation of life saving knowledge. There is, however, a growing need for the community radio stations to learn from experts as well as one another to arrive at an understanding of their ongoing and future work pertaining to Covid-19 related information and knowledge and filter infodemic to draw genuine communication and also demystify disinformation, misinformation and malinformation.

Community Radio (CR) is an important third tier in radio broadcasting, distinct from public service and commercial media. In the last few years, this sector has been growing slowly but effectively in India. Community Radio Stations (CRS) are essentially low power radio stations which are meant to be set up and operated by the local communities. CRS permissions in India are granted to educational institutions, agricultural institutions and civil society organizations that are not-for-profit organisations.