The delegation
of Members of Parliament from Sweden called on the Minister
of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad here
today. They discussed the sensitization of general public on
youth issues, their rights, gender issues and health. Shri Prasad
said though the Indian society has inhibitions about sexuality
being discussed in public yet the official media units of the
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the public service
broadcasters, AIR and Doordarshan have launched vigorous campaign
to educate people about family planning, AIDS and safe sex etc.
A great change of mindset is taking place, he said.
Asked about press
freedom in India, Shri Prasad said that there are no holds on
the press. He said, the Indian press, especially the language
press played a great role during the freedom movement and the
institutions of parliamentary democracy, independent judiciary
and free press are the very basic components of our democratic
system. We do not have stern libel laws as compared to the western
countries, he said.
