| NEW
DELHI: The Committee constituted by the information and broadcasting ministry
more than two years earlier to draw up a content code for broadcasters today concluded
its work, but it will be some time before a final shape is given to its recommendations
or implemented. The
Committee, headed by I&B secretary Asha Swarup had a final meeting today.
There was general agreement on the Code drawn up by the Committee when her predecessor
S K Arora was heading it, but some members made further suggestions. In
view of some strong views expressed by the members, it was decided to give them
time till 15 June, to submit their proposals and amendments to the Code which
will then be given a final shape by the ministry. It will be put on the ministry
website for one month for people to send in their suggestions, after which it
will be given a final shape and implemented. The
Committee has suggested a three-step procedure for self-regulation and redressal
of complaints alleging violation of the Programme or Advertising Codes. The first
forum to hear the complaints would be a Content Auditor at the level of the Programme/Service
Providers. In case a complaint is not suitably redressed, then it will go to the
next stage - respective Consumers' Complaints Committees set up at the industry-segment
level organizations. The
third and final stage would be the Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India proposed
in the comprehensive Broadcast Bill to be introduced in Parliament in the monsoon
session. The
meeting was presided over by Swarup and attended by around 15 members, who included
P N Vasanti from the Centre for Media Studies who along with her colleague Prawin
Kumar prepared the draft Code, Akila Sivadas of the Centre for Advocacy and Research,
Subhashini Ali who is President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association,
Roop Sharma who is President of the Cable Operators Federation of India, and S
Sen of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India. Zohra Chatterjee who
is joint secretary (Broadcasting) and additional secretary Pradeep Singh were
also present, apart from representatives of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation
(IBF). Speaking
informally to newspersons later, Swarup said there was division among members
on a provision in the draft Code that ‘the chief editor of the channel, by
whatever designation he is known in the broadcast service producer, shall be responsible
for the final decision to accept or modify the guidance given by the Content Auditor/s,
and to schedule and broadcast the programme.’ It was felt by some of the
participants that what was broadcast should be seen as a corporate matter and
not that relating to the editor, she said. There
was also some discussion on a suggestion that the category ‘U/A’ (Under
the Supervision of an Adult) should be merged in the category ‘U’ (Universal)
as far as certification of films was concerned. However, she said that the majority
opinion was that this should remain a separate category, particularly as far as
television goes. Under
the Code, the proposal is that films certified as ‘U’ or ‘S’
(Specialized) can be telecast at any time. Films certified as ‘U/A’
can be shown between 2000 hrs and 16:00 hrs, while films for ‘A’ (adult)
audiences should only be telecast between 23:00 hrs to 04:00 hrs.
In reply to
a question, Swarup said though there was no specific provision relating to sting
operations by news channels, the Code was clear that it was clearly stated that
‘while comments on historical or current events, ideas, individuals or institutions
may be presented, the subject matter treatment under all categories shall not
in any way deliberately present as true any unverified or inaccurate facts or
half truths or innuendoes, ‘defame or malign any individual person, or certain
groups or segments of society, or present facts and views in such a manner as
is likely to mislead the public about their factual accuracy or veracity.’
Sivadas
told Indiantelevision.com that she had very strongly urged the members of the
Committee to give clear definitions of what constituted coverage of crime, particularly
relating to women and children, since television channels gave their own interpretations.
She said she would give her views in writing to the ministry.
Ali said depiction of women was still very derogatory and there was need for stricter
Codes and guidelines not only for the TV medium, but also for cinema.
Vasanti, who made a presentation at the two-hour long meeting, told indiantelevision.com
that she felt satisifed that the Code drawn up by her and Prawin Kumar had stood
the test of time and had been accepted in principle subject to some changes. | 
