Millions of people in developing countries, particularly in rural areas, are deprived of a wide range of information and knowledge owing to the lack of access to information and communication technologies, as well as limited participation in information generation and dissemination—factors that could have improved their livelihoods and development patterns.

In the prevailing socio-cultural and geographical context of rural and remote communities, community communications or community media, especially in its most popular and viable form—community radio—has been found to be a more effective and inclusive medium for providing equitable access to information and knowledge among the masses.

Empirical evidence has shown that community communication and media foster grassroots-level participation and the horizontal circulation of ideas among deprived rural communities. These processes are essential preconditions for the democratization of communication and the redistribution of power.

This paper attempts to analyze the contribution of the community movement toward conscientization and the development of marginalized masses in various parts of South Asia in general, and India in particular. It will examine various experiments and experiences in community radio broadcasting across different countries in South and Southeast Asia and propose pragmatic policy suggestions for ensuring the sustainability of rural community radio initiatives, particularly in India.

A host of literature and empirical studies on the subject will be referred to during the analysis.