The Information and
Broadcasting Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj has said that the Government
would consider providing more powers to the Press Council of India
including the penal powers which the Council wants in order to
enforce its decisions on offenders. She said the Government is
also considering to set up an independent Broadcasting Regulatory
Authority for the electronic media to check the onslaught on our
culture, traditions and other undesirable telecasts. She invited
suggestions from women organizations in this regard so that Government
could take an overall view before arriving at a decision.
Inaugurating
the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the All India Women’s Conference
here today, Smt. Swaraj regretted that a large number of serials
telecast mostly on private electronic channels are showing the
women in a very derogatory manner as if women are always conspiring,
quarrelling on small issues and indulging in intrigues. She said
the advertisements both in print and electronic media are showing
semi-nude pictures of women, treating woman as a commodity to
boost the sale of different products. In films also women are
either shown as submissive and meek or only as objects of pleasure.
The struggling and successful aspects of women are not projected
to inspire others, Smt. Swaraj regretted.
Smt. Swaraj also
inaugurated a seminar on "Women and Media" and released
a First Day Special Cover issued by the Postal Department on the
Platinum Jubilee of AIWC. Prominent mediapersons who participated
in the seminar included Smt. Usha Rai, S/Shri Rajdeep Sardesai,
Prabhat Dabral and Deepak Chaurasia.
