Self regulation best way for TV channels: Ambika Soni

New Delhi, Nov 7 : Clarifying that the Government has no intention of pressurising exercising control on the media, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni has said self-regulation is the best way for a channel to decide on its content.

''The Government has no intention of putting pressure on or controlling the channels. Rather, the Government wants that self regulation be implemented in an effective manner. In fact, even the Government does not want to give directions to the channels,'' the Minister told a TV channel.

Speaking on 'Jo Kahoonga Sach Kahoonga' on Aaj Tak channel, to be telecast tomorrow, the Minister said talks were on with the channels on a code for self regulation.

Stressing on the need to preserve prints of Indian films, Ms Soni said the government planned to build a museum of old Indian films in Mumbai, work on which would start in the next two to three years.

She said the Government was working out a means to ensure that a print of every new film is available to the museum through the Censor Board where a film comes for clearance before being released.

''Preserving films will help film researchers to ascertain which films were released in a particular decade,'' the Minister said.

In this context she lamented the fact that of the first 100 films made in India, prints of only ten films were available.

On the oft-refrain of the film industry that it was no getting enough financial help or facilities from the Government, the Minister said that though the film industry has got status of an industry, it was still divided on the basis of regionalism and language.

''The entire film fraternity in India, from South India to Mumbai to Bhojpuri and Bangla film industry should unitedly demand financial help from the Government.

The Ministry will extend them all support,'' Ms Soni said.

To a question, the Congress leader denied that the image of the Party had suffered a dent following the Madhu koda episode. She said the Congress was working in a fully transparent manner.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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