GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO ENCOURAGE
B’CASTERS FOR SELF- REGULATION: PRASAD
CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE OF I&B MEETS
The
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
has reiterated that the Government was committed to encourage
the broadcasters to exercise self-regulation in airing content
on television. He said the Government has no intention to police
the contents of the broadcasting sector. Speaking at the Consultative
Committee meeting of Information and Broadcasting Ministry here
today, Shri Prasad said the television medium on its part has
to be more cautious while adhering to self-regulation and pointed
out that desirable level were not being maintained. He said the
Ministry has received a number of complaints from various Non-Government
Organisations and Women Commission regarding indecent portrayal
of women, violence and surrogated advertisements being telecast
on various channels.
The Minister
said that in order to frame and enforce regulating guidelines
from time to time for the content on TV and Radio, the Government
is considering setting up of a Broadcasting Regulatory Authority
comprising of experts including those from fields like literature,
performing art, media, culture, film, management and law. He said
the instant popularity of Doordarshan’s newly launched 24 hours
News channel was testimony to the fact that Indian viewers were
interested in serious content and efforts have to be made by all
concern to cater to this need of the viewers.
The participating
members at the meeting expressed serious concern at the growing
vulgarity in the music videos, film promos and surrogated advertisements
on television. They were of the opinion that many television programmes
were not fit for family viewing. Contrary view was also expressed
insisting that we should still strive only for self-regulation.
The members pointed that with over 100 television channels showing
programmes in India and more than four crore cable TV homes, the
Government should strengthen its monitoring network to keep an
eye on what all was being shown to the people at large. Concern
was also expressed on the pitiable portrayal of women in the entertainment
programmes which was creating an impression that efforts were
not being made to empower women.
The Members of
the Parliament who attended the meeting today were S/Shri Hannan
Mollah, Ajay Maroo, A.A..Shaheen, Pritish Nandy, E.M.Sudarsana
Natchiappan and Balkavi Bairagi.
