Kerala - Kozhikode   

Panel to keep tabs on cable TV content

KOZHIKODE: The newly constituted District-Level Monitoring Committing in Kozhikode will look into complaints from television viewers regarding content that could incite communal feelings or ‘explicit’ material on channels. The committee, the first to be formed in the State, has been set up under the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act.

District Collector A. Jayathilak, who is also the District Magistrate, is the chairman of the panel. District Information Officer T. Velayudan will co-ordinate its activities.

The committee will meet once in two months.

Kozhikode (Rural) Superintendent of Police K. Natarajan; Sr. Ancilla, Principal, Providence Women’s College (representing Principal of a women’s college); K. Sundaran, Shishu Shema Samiti (representing a non government organisation (NGO); K. Ajitha, president, Anweshi Women’s Counselling Centre (representing an NGO working for the development of women); Beena Johnson, psychologist; Nazeema, School of Distance Education, Calicut University; and Hafeez Mohammed, sociologist, Farook College; are members of the committee.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had recently defined the role of State and District Monitoring Committees.

These committees were formed after the Centre received complaints from viewers regarding alleged malpractices by local cable operators, including collection of monthly charges. The committee has been authorised to direct the cable network to ensure proper transmission.

The public can now raise their voice against objectionable content shown at the local level, Mr. Velayudan pointed out.

The new guidelines have been issued to ensure effective functioning of these committees.

The district committee, while being a platform to consider complaints at the local level, would also bring to the notice of the State government and the Centre any programme that affects public order or causes resentment in any community.

The committee will also monitor the availability of free-to-air channels and channels notified as mandatory on a cable network.

It can take stringent action against a cable network agency if it is does not carry channels prescribed as mandatory.

It can also take up cases of violation of orders on programmes and advertising codes.

At the State-level, the Information and Public Relations Secretary is the chairman. A senior IPS officer representing the Director-General of Police (DGP), secretaries of the Social Welfare Department, Women and Child Development Department, a representative of a leading NGO working for women, a sociologist and an academic are members of the committee.

The Director of Public Relations is the member-secretary.

The State-level monitoring committee will oversee the functioning of the district committees, recommend action and forward complaints against national channels to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

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