The government of India has recently legitimised community radio in the country, a decision supported by the World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) and Isis International-Manila.

According to the policy released on November 16, 2006, civil society organisations, NGOs, and other non-profit organisations will now be allowed to apply for community radio licenses. It will also allow them to become self supporting through limited advertising revenue. India is the first country in South Asia to have a separate policy for community radio.

The legislation comes 11.5 years after the Supreme Court of India's landmark judgment which declared airwaves as public property. Since then, initiatives especially from rural India demonstrated the need for voices of the excluded to move to the centre. November 16, 2006 is not only a historic day for these communities but for all of the country who are committed to media democratisation and the realisation of a three tiered media structure—public, private and community; based on principles of equity and inclusiveness.

Community groups of the poor like Kutch Mahila Vikas Sanghatan, Namma Dhwani, VOICES, Deccan Development Society, and others who used narrow casting, cable radio and buying time from All India Radio joined together to ensure that voices of the poor were not overwhelmed by the sound of silence. Underlying their efforts were networking, lobbying and advocacy initiatives. Collaborations with academe and other social movements also strengthened and reinforced the relevance of community radio in India.