Moral Inspector of TV?

Priya's axe ready for more blood

Minister as moral inspector plans to punish channels " It is time for the government to take a tough stand... Yes, I am the moral inspector for television and I am serious about it P.R. Dasmunsi Information and Broadcasting minister

Chetan Chauhan, New Delhi

THE INFORMATION and Broadcasting Ministry, which banned AXN a fortnight ago, is planning to take action against more television channels for showing objec- tionable content. "I can't reveal the identity of these four or five channels but action will be taken soon," Informa- tion and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said on the sidelines of the Social Editors' Conference.

The minister said he was not against "naughty" content provid- ed it was telecast after 11 p.m. —– "people can spend sleepless nights to watch such programmes" — but was "sick" of some of the things being shown on television.

Dasmunsi said these channels had been showing content that was against basic societal norms and depicted women in a bad taste. "It is time for the govern- ment to take a tough stand. I am sick of seeing these things on private channels," he said.

Asked if he was policing tele- vision, Dasmunsi said, "Yes, I am the moral inspector for television and I am serious about it." The I&B Ministry has been under pressure on content. Recently, the Bombay High Court pulled up the ministry for allow- ing movies with "adult" rating on television. Some NGOs have complained about a few advertise- ments and programmes. "

Sony India chief executive officer Kunal Dasgupta was supportive of the ministry's plan. "The ministry has been rapped on its knees by courts for allowing content perceived as insensitive towards society and in bad taste. The ministry's action is totally justified on that account," he said.

chetan@hindustantimes.com

Source:HindustanTimes, Tues Feb 6, 07-print edition

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Now the ques is should the I&B Minister issue such ingrained statements?

>Does he as minister have the right to decide what the 'adult' public wants to watch? And to what extent?

>Regarding women they are treated badly in society - Rapes, marital violence, work place -sexual abuse, dowry deaths, Sati, female foeticide, the list is endless.

>Has the official Govt channel DD done anything for this? Does it follow the guidelines or give ratings?

>Can there not be a better system of exercising control in terms of ratings, parental control, channel locks etc?

>Will the other attributes of being (moral) "inspector" follow suit? (in lighter vein)