A Comparative Analysis of Organizational and Operational Structures of Community Radio Models in India

Abstract

Community radio has emerged as a crucial participatory communication medium enabling grassroots engagement, local empowerment, and development-oriented broadcasting. In India, community radio operates through diverse institutional frameworks, primarily educational institution–based, NGO-based, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)–based models. While policy reforms have expanded the community radio sector, limited empirical research has systematically examined how organizational and operational structures differ across these models and how such differences influence station functioning. Addressing this gap, the present study focuses on the first objective of the broader thesis: to examine and compare the organizational and operational structures of educational, NGO-based, and KVK-based community radio stations in India. Using a comparative, mixed-methods research design, data were collected from three community radio stations representing each model in the National Capital Region (NCR). Quantitative data were obtained from volunteers through structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were gathered via interviews with station coordinators and managers. The findings reveal significant structural variations across the three models in terms of governance mechanisms, decision-making autonomy, resource availability, and operational flexibility. NGO-based stations demonstrate higher community integration and participatory governance, educational stations exhibit stronger institutional support but limited community ownership, and KVK-based stations show high technical credibility with a focused thematic orientation. The study confirms the first hypothesis that organizational and operational structures significantly differ across community radio models and substantially influence station functioning. The findings offer theoretical, managerial, and policy implications for strengthening community radio sustainability and participatory communication practices in India.