| NEW
DELHI: The content code for broadcasters drawn up by a Committee constituted by
the information and broadcasting ministry appears to have run into problems, and
it may be a long while before it can be notified or implemented. Though
senior ministry officials and the group which drafted the Code are meeting on
21 June to give a final shape to the provisions, there is wide division on the
various provisions with broadcasters feeling this amounts to policing and infringement
of their freedom and non-governmental and women’s organizations feeling it
is too vague on some of its provisions. After
the final meeting of the Committee headed by I&B Secretary Asha Swarup on
1 June, it had been generally agreed that those members who wanted to give any
further suggestions could do so by 15 June after which the final draft would be
put up in the ministry website for people to send in their reactions.
I&B ministry
sources today told indiantelevision.com that most of the suggestions had been
received and were in the process of being incorporated in the draft. However in
view of the sharp divisions, this would be followed up by some meetings with broadcasters
who have expressed strong reservations, and also a seminar where eminent citizens
and stakeholders would be asked to give their views. Broadcasters
are said to have objected to the procedure for redressal of complaints among other
provisions. The Code as drawn up stipulates 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.
Broadcasters
have also expressed reservations about the 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.’ They feel that whatever is broadcast should be seen as a corporate
matter and not that relating to the Editor alone.
Akila Sivadas of the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) is understood to
have objected to the vague provisions with regard to portrayal of women, showing
of violence, and the role of children in the serials and other programmes including
news bulletins. CFAR
is understood to have given specific examples to show how guidelines given in
the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 are being violated with regard to
these subjects and has said the depiction of violence or the role of children
should be clearly defined, citing cases of mental cruelty where children have
been made to re-enact situations where they indulged in violence or were victims
of it. Suggestions have also been given to incorporate provisions relating to
clear definitions of what constituted coverage of crime, particularly relating
to women and children, since television channels gave their own interpretations.
Subhashini
Ali who is President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, has
objected to the derogatory depiction of women and suggested stricter provisions
and guidelines not only for the TV medium, but also for cinema.
The meeting
on 1 June had been 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, Sivadas, Ali, Roop Sharma (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). Broadcasters
also feel there is no reason for a separate ‘U/A’ (Under the Supervision
of an Adult) category and this should be merged in the category ‘U’
(Universal) as far as certification of films was concerned. The
Code as drafted stipulates that films certified as ‘U’ or ‘S’
(Specialized) can be telecast at any time. Films certified as ‘U/A’
can be shown between 8 pm and 4 pm, while films for ‘A’ (adult) audiences
should only be telecast between 11 pm to 4 am. | 
