core sector communique

Government Committed to Ensure Level Playing Field for Media Media Should Act as an Enabler, Giving Voice to the Voiceless- Ambika Soni 

Minister Inaugurates two Day International Colloquium on Freedom of Expression & Human Rights Organised by Press Council of India 

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni has said the Government is committed in ensuring level playing field for different segments of the media in order to promote a sustainable growth process and a robust industry. During the period of global recession, the print industry in India grew at a rate of 6.2% despite the downward growth conditions world wide in the media industry. Support was provided to the different newspapers i.e. small, medium and regional through advertisements released by the government. This created an enabling environment within the industry especially the regional press. The growing number of newspaper readers within the country was also an indicator of the growth of the regional press in different forms and dialects. In the broadcast sector, 653 satellite channels had been granted permission till date, while the FM Phase-III roll out shortly would ensure availability of 806 radio stations across 283 cities. The Minister stated this while delivering the key note address at the Inaugural session of the two day International Colloquium on Freedom of expression & human rights here today.

Elaborating further, the Minster said that media needed to avoid sensationalism or trivialization of issues in the pursuit of commercial interests. As the media platform functioned within the environment of instant communication, spontaneity of communication had broken the barriers of the traditional communication and information dissemination moved forward through different outreach tools thereby having a profound impact in the shortest possible time. Minister added media ought to act as an enabler, giving voice to the voiceless in order to ensure that every marginal group was heard, seen and involved in the mainstream by highlighting issues that protected and enhanced the dignity and self-esteem of such groups, hence empowering them.

Highlighting issues on the theme of the colloquium, the Minister said, The free flow of information was an essential requirement of human beings. Society would be stifled and dissatisfied if it was prevented from having access to information or if people did not have the freedom to express themselves. An independent and pluralistic media, which freely provides substantiated information to citizens, was the cornerstone of a robust and democratic polity and acts as a protector of human rights. The Minister stressed that effective functioning of democracy required transparency and transparency thrived on a free two-way flow of information. The power of expression had thus become an inalienable right to express views and opinion.

Elaborating on some of the key initiatives undertaken to ensure accountability and transparency in government, Smt Soni said that the Right to Information Act had proven to be the single most effective instrument for empowering the common man. The setting up of Community Radio Stations in far-flung remote areas had ensured people at the grassroots to get sensitized with quality information and vital statistics on key flagship programmes of the Government such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, National Rural Health Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Right to Information. Similarly, the MPLAD Scheme through which local development concerns were addressed had proven to be an effective tool to tackle the issue of deprivation at lowest level of programme implementation. At the same time, the government had ensured legislation to protect fundamental rights such as Right to Education, Right to Health, Right to Work, Right to Information and was on the threshold of making the Right to Food an Act of Parliament.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman, Press Council of India, Justice G. N. Ray said the endeavour of Press Council of India was to ensure that media enjoyed the utmost freedom. However, it was necessary that the parameters of media ethics were clearly laid down.

The two day colloquium will lay special emphasis on freedom of expression Vs Rights of the Civil Society, reporting human rights excesses, promoting peace journalism and media as a defender of human rights. Media organizations from various countries like Australia, Austria, Turkey, Israel, Tanzania besides Indian representatives are participating in the deliberations at this International Colloquium.