Beyond Prison Walls: Conversation on Prisoners' Rights: Tihar Jail and CHRI

Tihar Prisons in collaboration with the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Delhi School of Social Work, University of Delhi organised a one-day seminar on 23 September 2017 at NDMC Convention Centre, Sansad Marg, New Delhi to discuss issues concerning the prison system and prisoners’ rights.

The event ‘Beyond Prison Walls - Conversation on Prisoners’ Rights’ was envisioned as a space to build relationships at the intersection of criminal justice between people behind bars and those who govern the system.

Mr. Sudhir Yadav, Director General, Department of Prisons, NCT of Delhi, said “We hope that through the seminar we have been able to highlight the challenges faced by prisoners. Our endeavour in Tihar jail has been to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate the prisoners. Our aim has been to treat each inmate with dignity and respect. We hope that when they go back to society, they are able to give back."

Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Director, said at the inaugural session, “The aim of the seminar is to focus on the socio-economic impacts of detention and sensitising functionaries to pledge against injustice. The seminar seeks to raise public consciousness on issues plaguing the system and encouraging dialogue on pre-trial and post-release concerns.”

Dr. Meeran C. Borwankar, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), claimed that; Prisoners have the same human rights as citizens and prison administration has to be alive to this fact. Open and transparent prison administration supported by civil society leads to reformation and rehabilitation of prisoner."

Dr. Neera Agnimitra, Professor and Head, Department of Social Work, said, “the domain of correctional social work is ever expanding in the contemporary context. The judiciary has time and again asserted the imperativeness of the role of social workers, especially in the prison setting. The Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, hopes that this seminar shall foster an extensive engagement of the relevant spectrum of stakeholders to create a meaningful discourse in the field of prisoners’ rights and prison reforms.”

The inaugural session saw speeches by our chief guest—Dr. Justice B.S. Chauhan, Chairman, Law Commission of India, who stressed that “after being convicted, a person does not cease to be a citizen of India. He still has rights”. Speaking on bail, he said that the privilege of the rich in criminal procedure must be ended, particularly in light of Article 21 (life and liberty) and Article 14 (non-discrimination) within the Indian Constitution.

Our second chief guest, Mr. Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, began by welcoming the inmates present, addressing them as dignitaries, and spoke of the importance of dignity for all individuals. He said he would take the recommendations of this event forward. He also congratulated CHRI and its work in this area, which he became acquainted with as a journalist and as a social activist.

The first-half of the day witnessed a panel discussion on existing bail provisions and practice; the amendments proposed by the Law Commission recently and the challenges in implementation of the provisions and the way ahead. Undertrials constitute more than two-third of the prison population in the country defying the principle of ‘Bail is the rule, Jail an exception’

“There have been detailed conversations on the need for risk assessment, its time we start talking about benefits to society by granting bail,” said a Tihar inmate in the second half of the seminar, inmates interacted with authorities, civil society and media. This helped in providing a platform for prison inmates to voice their concerns in their own words; for long, many have spoken for them.

Based on preliminary discussions with inmates, three main issues were identified. These are -
“Kya israat ki subah hogi” – First Day in Prison
The first day in prison is probably the most challenging for most inmates. The sense of being lost, alone and without hope dominates. The session tried to address questions like - What would give them comfort? What safeguards are guaranteed to them? What kind of psychological and emotional condition are they at this stage? 

“Hamara sangharsh yahan bhi” – Issues Concerning Women and Children inside Prisons.
Women inmates are acutely vulnerable. The weak socio - economic court. Often without the support from their families. The conditions of women impact their life behind bars as well. Limited education and forced dependency makes it even more difficult for them to undergo a trial, deal with lawyers, and understand what happens in court. This requires special considerations regarding their mental health needs. 

The session was moderated by India’s leading prison rights activist and Head of the Department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College, Dr. Vartika Nanda Panelists in this session were: Assistant Superintendent, Tihar, Ms. Jyoti Chaudhary, Superintendent, Asha Jyoti Home & Female Beggar Home, Department of Social Welfare, Ms. Priyanka Yadav; Delhi High Court, Advocate Anu Narula; Director, India Vision Foundation, Ms. Monica Dhawan; Delhi School of Social Work, Prof. Mali Sawariya and women inmates.

“Ekdusra mauka” – Lack of Opportunities After Release and Addressing Social Stigma

Having spent crucial years of their life in prison, life post-release can be very challenging. The mental and physical impacts of incarceration and the social stigma attached ensures that their ‘punishment’ goes beyond prison bars.
The session dealt with issues like- What would give them the confidence to face the challenges post release- prison addressing issues of social reintegration? Would society be ready to accept them? How can civil society help?

Justice Madan B.Lokur, Judge, Supreme Court, said when he first visited Tihar jail in 1993-94, the condition of Tihar was "very bad." "I have visited it again twice, and I found lots of improvements."

He highlighted the importance of video conferencing, saying that it could be used more effectively by connecting prisons with courts, legal services authorities and other agencies of the criminal justice system. "All the jails in India should have video-conferencing facilities.There are about 1,400 jails and courts are much more in number. We are trying to install video conferencing units in all jails," he said.

The second point, he raised, was of legal aid anomalies. He stressed on "quality legal aid" and said that the need for regular interaction between inmates and lawyers is extremely important."
He also raised the matter of undertrial review committee, which he said, needs to conduct meetings every month and he hoped that it would lessen the burden on the jails, which are really overcrowded.

The seminar had representation from the various agencies of the criminal justice system, including judicial officers, lawyers, prosecutors, government and police officials, media and legal aid functionaries.  

Dr Vartika Nanda also presented her book on prison reforms, Tinka  Tinka Dasna, to both Justice Madan B.Lokur, Judge, Supreme Court and Shri Sudhir Yadav, DG, Tihar Prisons, at the end of the seminar. Tinka Tinka is a unique series on prison reforms founded and run by Vartika Nanda.

What is Embargo in Journalism?

DEFINITIONS

• An agreement between the source and the media organization: The latter is provided with news that ought not to be published until a certain date.
• An embargoed release is a media release or announcement that is shared with the media in advance of its publishing date.
• An embargo is an agreement between a source and a media outlet that information—often contained in a press release—will not be published until a predetermined time.
• Limitation on the earliest time when a news item given to a journalist can be published or broadcast, usually a date.

FEATURES

1. It involves sharing of news in advance.
2. It is based on the element of trust.
3. It is usually non- binding in nature. (other serious repercussions might be there)
4. The Statement of Time plays a crucial role.

ORIGIN

The origins of the press embargo have not yet been explored by the social sciences. The majority of experts trace the embargo back to World War I or a little earlier. [World War I is 11 often called the first war of media or pictures (Paul 2014)]. This was the period when great powers in Europe began to professionalize their propaganda and thus tightened the rules for the publication of news. There is another set of experts who believe that embargoes emerged in 20^th century. Against this Ron Smith, a professor of public communication at Buffalo State University, US, considers it possible that the embargo might already have emerged in the 19th century in the US. “Embargoes are probably an American contribution to the field of journalism, in that they seem to have originated from the days when mail (and thus news stories) travelled by coach and train, sometimes arriving several days after they were sent” (Smith 2014).

The exact origin still remains a highly debated topic.

KEY AREAS WHERE EMBARGOES ARE USED

a.                   Science

b.                  Healthcare

c.                   Technology

d.                  Areas of security and national interests

EXAMPLES  

• Embargo was used when then President of the United States George W. Bush visited Iraq on Thanksgiving Day in 2003. The President’s visit to Iraq was an unannounced trip, but some reporters knew about it in advance. Reporters were told not to break the news until the President’s trip was concluded. The embargo further went on to state that if news of the trip broke, then the entire trip would be canceled.

• The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense informed some media outlets that Prince Harry would be serving in Afghanistan. But the condition was that they would release this information only after the end of his deployment. But somehow this information got leaked and the officials were forced to put an end to the embargo. In the end the Prince was removed from the field.

• Some media outlets in 2007 published early reviews of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” thereby outraging readers and the publisher with disclosures of the series-ending book’s key plot points. The news organizations argued that the embargo had become null and void once an online discounter began selling copies of the book before the agreed-upon release date.

• Information related to financial budget of a country is usually embargoed. In some countries like Canada and Australia the journalists are kept in lockups prior to the release of official statement regarding the budget. This is done to ensure that no insider trading happens.

• To have synchronized effects on all economies of the world international organizations often use embargo. For instance International Monetary Fund’s briefings are usually embargoed until 10:30 a.m. Washington Time.

• Hike in oil prices can affect the entire world economy and thus this information is also embargoed to a large extent.

IMPORTANCE IN JOURNALISM

There are so many reasons why news embargoes are important. Some of the reasons are as follows:

• They help journalists and reporters to prepare their story in advance before press time.

• They allow for an increased impact of the story or information being delivered because not one or two media outlets publish it at the same time but several media outlets. This significantly increases the impact of the story or information.

• They help in preventing competition among news organizations since every outlet has access to the story or information.

• They give journalists ample of time to work on a story, it prevents inaccuracies.

• They allow journalists to tell better stories that would be appreciated by the public.

• They give journalists enough time to absorb information, especially when the information is a complicated one. They have the time to research on it and put the pieces together before press time.

• Honoring an embargo can help in building strong relationships between journalists and their sources.

REPERCUSSIONS OF BREAKING AN EMBARGO

News organizations and journalists sometimes break an embargo and go ahead to report information that they are not supposed to report until a particular time. Sometimes the news organizations break the embargo intentionally or sometimes it is unintentional. 

When news organizations break the embargo intentionally, they do so because they want to publish the story before their competitors and sell more papers or get higher ratings. If a journalist or news organization breaks an embargo, since it is not a legally binding agreement, there is nothing the source can do. But it is considered a serious thing and can damage the relationship between the source and the particular media outlet that broke the embargo. The action most sources take after a news organization breaks an embargo is to blacklist them and prevent them from receiving any information from them again. Sometimes the suspension can be indefinite depending on the gravity of their offence.

Thus, when a journalist or a news organization breaks embargoes, in the initial stage they get advantage over their competitors, but as time goes on they suffer a long-term disadvantage.

WHEN TO USE EMBARGOES?

• If the announcement is complex and needs demonstrating and explaining.

• If there are commercial reasons why details can’t be shared gradually over time beforehand, such as competitive pressure.

• If you want to manufacture buzz: When everyone is reporting on particular story at once, it creates the impression that the story involves something BIG.

DO’S AND DON’TS OF PITCHING AN EMBARGO

• DO get the facts right ahead of time. 
• DO practice transparency when communicating with different reporters at the same outlet. 
• DO manage your client’s expectations. 
• DON’T confuse pitching under embargo with pitching an exclusive.
• DON’T just assume that a reporter accepts the terms of an embargo.
• DON’T pitch under embargo without doing your homework. 
• Be specific with publication date and time. 
• Be fair with issuing press release embargoes. 
• Use the embargoed press release sparingly. 

SOURCES

• Reuters Institute Fellowship Paper (University of Oxford):-‘News Embargoes - Under threat, but not extinct’ by Sonja Gruber
• Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2015/03/11/eight-pr-terms-you-should-know-but-only-vaguely-understand/#770ec20d31ef)
•  https://publicrelationssydney.com.au/embargoes-what-are-they-and-when-to-use-them-2/
• The News Manual (https://www.thenewsmanual.net/Resources/glossary.html)
• e-releases ( http://www.ereleases.com/pr-fuel/embargoed-press-releases/)
• http://www.kcsa.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-pitching-news-under-embargo/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-the-world-of-embargoes-they-release-no-news-before-its-time/2013/07/11/3b19ca4c-ea66-11e2-aa9f-c03a72e2d342_story.html?utm_term=.be71ea84b265

- Sanjana, Student of Journalism, LSR

Brief History of Press in India

The 240-year history of the Indian press accounts for the prestigious growth of Indian newspapers. In a report by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) published in 2011, India led the world in terms of newspaper circulation with nearly 330 million newspapers circulated daily.

The first Indian newspaper was announced by William Bolts in 1776 who asked those interested to come to his residence to read the news. But it was James August Hickey (considered as the “father of Indian press”) who started his newspaper called the Bengal Gazette, or Hickey’s Gazette in 1780 that the age of journalism dawned in the country. He described it as “weekly political and commercial paper open to all parties, but influenced by none”. He wrote about the corruption by British administrators in India, particularly about Sir Warren Hastings and his personal affairs. Hickey was soon imprisoned and his printing material was seized.

Subsequently, The Madras Courier and The Bombay Times were launched. In Bengal, five newspapers were started. Some of these received government patronage and therefore, flourished. Although their circulation wasn’t much wide, the government issued Press Regulations (1799) making the publication of the names of the printer, editor and proprietor mandatory and submission of all the material to be printed for an examination by the government.

In the early nineteenth century, social reformers and political activists like Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Indian language newspapers. Social awareness and public education were their main motives. Many newspapers in the various vernacular languages of India made their way like The Bombay Samachar (1822), Jam-e-Jamshed (1831) etc.  After the revolt for Independence (1857), the government introduced more stringent press laws but this didn’t stop the national leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh from printing their agenda and raising a feeling of nationalism in the public. The Nationalist movement gathered a momentum and that gave a stronger push to the Indian Press.

After the Salt Satyagraha in 1930, the Press Emergency Act of 1931 was firmly put in place. The British government controlled and filtered all the news. Gandhi wrote against the restrictions imposed. He said, “In the name of the war effort, all expression of opinion is effectively suppressed unless an enterprising editor or publisher risks the loss of his press”. Eventually, in September 1946, an interim government was formed which would assist in India’s independence. At that moment, the British government lost its control over press and curtailed the freedom of Press.

Today, the Press in India has flourished, with so many newspapers and magazines being published in various Indian languages providing a vast variety of news and other information.

Key words- History of Press in India, William Bolts, James Augustus Hickey, Hickey’s Gazette, Vernacular Press, Press Regulations, Censorship, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Nationalist Movement and Press, Press Emergency Act (1931), Freedom of Press.

-Aastha Poddar, Student of Journalism, LSR

Basics of Attribution in Journalism

Attribution is stating who said something. Attribution is essential in all the media, including radio and television. Journalists do it so that your readers or listeners can know who is speaking or where the information in the story comes from. You can use attribution for both spoken and written information, so that you attribute information gathered from interviews, speeches, reports, books, films or even other newspapers, radio or television stations. The source can be a person, publication, or other record or document that gives timely information. Outside journalism, sources are sometimes known as "news sources". Examples of sources include official records, publications or broadcasts, officials in government or business, organizations or corporations, witnesses of crime, accidents or other events, and people involved with or affected by a news event or issue.

Examples:

SOURCE (PARAPHRASE) - Jeb Jones, a resident of the trailer park, said the sound of the tornado was terrifying. SOURCE (DIRECT QUOTE)- “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it,” said Jeb Jones, who lives in the trailer park. Reporters often use both paraphrases and direct quotes from a source. Direct quotes provide immediacy and a more connected, human element to the story. Quotations: In complete quotations, attribution is set off from the quote by a comma. (“I'm busy," she said. Or: She said, “I'm busy.”) Because complete quotes are sentences in their own right, the quoted material begins with a capital letter. Never use orphan quotes (when the reader or listener is not sure who's doing the talking). Always attach attribution to a quote. Long quotes: Occasionally a long quote, particularly a formal one, such as from the text of a speech, will begin a paragraph. That construction calls for attribution in the previous graph, which must close with a colon. Partial quotes: By definition, partial quotations and quote fragmentsare not complete sentences. Attribution in those rarely used devices is not set off by commas and the quoted material does not start with a capital letter. TYPES OF ATTRIBUTION. 1. On the record: All statements are directly quotable and attributable, by name and title, to the person making the statement. This is the most valuable type of attribution. Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," said White House press secretary Jim Smith. 2. On Background: All statements are directly quotable but can't be attributed by name or specific title to the person commenting. Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," a White House spokesman said. 3. On Deep Background: Anything that is said in the interview is usable but not in a direct quotation and not for attribution. The reporter writes it in his own words. Example: Invading Iran is not in the cards for the U.S. 4. Off the Record: Information is for the reporter's use only and is not to be published. The information also is not to be taken to another source in hopes of getting confirmation. WHEN TO ATTRIBUTE Any time the information in your story comes from a source and not from your own firsthand observations or knowledge, it must be attributed. A good rule of thumb is to attribute once per paragraph if you are telling the story mainly through comments from an interview or eyewitnesses to an event. It might seem repetitive, but it’s important for reporters to be clear about where their information originates. One of the greatest dangers facing young journalist is accepting what people say as the truth. Just because someone tells you that something is a fact does not make it so. If you attribute the words to the person who said them, you do not have to prove or disprove the truth of their words; you simply report them. Also, people judge what is said by the person who says it. Statements made by people in authority carry more weight than statements made by other people.

ETHICS

Attribution is a journalist's way of sourcing the information in their piece. This can come from all different ways, including quotes to paraphrasing. Any information that is provided outside of a journalist's personal observations needs to be properly attributed in any type of article. This prevents any fraud, copyright infringements, and helps the writer be clear and precise about their data.

Journalists ethical code normally address the issue of attribution, which is sensitive because in the course of their work journalists may receive information from sources who wish to remain anonymous. Divulging the identity of a confidential source is frowned upon by groups representing journalists in many democracies. In many countries, journalists enjoy the same protection under the law as all other citizens, and as such may be required to divulge their sources in the course of a criminal investigation as any other citizen would be. Even in jurisdictions which grant journalists special legal protections, journalists are typically required to testify if they bear witness to a crime.

RELIABLE SOURCES

In some cases, your sources of information may not want to be named, for fear of revenge. Journalists who are sure of their facts often attribute such information to "usually reliable sources", "informed sources" or "sources within the department/company".

In some cases, they use phrases like "it is widely believed that" or "it is understood that". Be warned! If your information is wrong, the blame will rest at your door. The greatest danger comes in "off the record" interviews. You must always consult your news editor or chief of staff about what you can and cannot say in such cases. (See Chapter 59: Sources of information.)

TO SUMMARISE:

• Always attribute quotes to the speaker or source of information.

• You can use alternative words to "said", but beware that they may have distinct meanings and may imply support or disbelief.

• Attribute all opinions and information which is not a clear and undisputed fact.

(SOURCES – Open school of journalism, The news manual, Wikipedia, Thoughtco., Web.cu.ed)

-Ishita Sharma, Student of Journalism, LSR

Story of Prasar Bharati

Prasar Bharati is India's largest public broadcasting agency. It is an autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament and comprises Doordarshan Television Network and All India Radio, which were earlier media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Parliament of India passed the Prasar Bharati Act to grant this autonomy in 1990, but it was not enacted until 15 September 1997. Shashi Sekhar Vembati is the current chairperson of Prasar Bharati.

Shashi Sekhar Vembhati

The Prasar Bharati Act stipulates general superintendence, direction and management of affairs of the Corporation vests in Prasar Bharati Board which may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

Prasar Bharati Board consists of:

· Chairman

· One Executive Member

· One Member (Finance)

· One Member (Personnel)

· Six Part-time Members

· Director-General (Akashvani), ex officio

· Director-General (Doordarshan), ex officio

· One representative of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), to be nominated by that Ministry and

· Two representatives of the employees of the Corporation, of whom one shall be elected by the engineering staff from amongst themselves and one shall be elected by the other employee from amongst themselves.

The President of India appoints Chairman and the other Members, except the ex officio members, nominated member and the elected members.

Prasar Bharati Act

The Prasar Bharati Act provides for establishment of a Broadcasting Corporation, to be known as Prasar Bharati, to define its composition, functions and powers. The Act grants autonomy to All India Radio and Doordarshan, which were previously under government control. The Act received assent of President of India on 12 September 1990 after being unanimously passed by Parliament. It was finally implemented in November 1997. By the Prasar Bharati Act, all property, assets, debts, liabilities, payments of money due, all suits and legal proceedings involving Akashvani (All India Radio) and Doordarshan were transferred to Prasar Bharati.

Why was there a need for Broadcasting Autonomy?

For over three decades beginning with Chanda committee report in 1966 and continuing through the reports of the Verghese Committee (Akash Bharti) in 1978 and the Joshi Committee in 1985, recommendations for broadcasting reforms were put forth. This need for autonomy was deeply felt soon after the emergeny period. As a result, the Prasar Bharati Act (1990) was formed by the government. It was the first instance of a government voluntarily bringing legislation to free the media from its control which may set in motion a chain of events in the country bringing in revolutionary changes in the field. Apart from safeguarding the citizen’s right to be informed freely, truthfully and objectively, Prasar Bharati was also required to pay attention to special fields such as education, agriculture, development, women empowerment etc.

Objectives of Prasar Bharati Corporation

The major objectives of the Prasar Bharati Corporation as laid out in the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 are as follows:

· Upholding the unity and integrity of the country and the values enshrined in the Constitution.

· Safeguarding the citizen’s right to be informed freely, truthfully and objectively on all matters of public interest, national or international, and presenting a fair and balanced flow of information including contrasting views without advocating any opinion or ideology of its own.

· Paying special attention to the fields of education and spread of literacy, agriculture, rural development, environment, health and family welfare and science and technology.

· Providing adequate coverage to the diverse cultures and languages of the various regions of the country by broadcasting appropriate programmes.

· Providing adequate coverage to sports and games so as to encourage healthy competition and the spirit of sportsmanship.

· Providing appropriate programmes keeping in view the special needs of the youth.

· Informing and stimulating the national consciousness in regard to the status and problems of women and paying special attention to the upliftment of women.

· Promoting social justice and combating exploitation, inequality and such evils as untouchability and advancing the welfare of the weaker sections of the society.

· Safeguarding the rights of the working classes and advancing their welfare.

· Serving the rural and weaker sections of the people and those residing in border regions, backward or remote areas.

· Providing suitable programmes keeping in view the special needs of the minorities and tribal communities.

· Taking special steps to protect the interests of children, the blind, the aged, the handicapped and other vulnerable sections of the people.

· Promoting national integration by broadcasting in a manner that facilitates communication in the languages in India; and facilitating the distribution of regional broadcasting services in every State in the languages of that State.

· Providing comprehensive broadcast coverage through the choice of appropriate technology and the best utilisation of the broadcast frequencies available and ensuring high quality reception.

· Promoting research and development activities in order to ensure that radio broadcast and television broadcast technology are constantly updated.

Chanda Committee 1964

Chanda committee was formed in 1964, when Indira Gandhi was the I&B minister under the chairmanship of A.K. Chanda. The report was submitted in 1967. Their recommendations included separation of TV and radio units, which resulted in the separation of AIR and Doordarshan. It also recommended that programs related to national interest must be broadcasted on priority basis. 

The Janta Government had appointed a Working Group on the autonomy of the Akashwani and Doordarshan in August 1977. The chairman of this committee was B.G. Verghese. The committee submitted its report on February 24, 1978. This committee’s main recommendation was “formation of Akash Bharti or the “National Broadcasting Trust”, both for the AIR and Doordarshan. The committee noted that the people want an independent corporation because, the executive, abetted by a captive parliament, shamelessly misused the Broadcasting during emergency and this must be prevented for all times. 

This was a bold recommendation of this committee, which wanted substantial “Constitutional Safeguards” for the recommended body. But these recommendations were not even supported by Janta rulers. 

The minister (LK Advani) commented: “The committee has recommended the creation of an independent, constitutional entity, parallel to the Judiciary on which the legislature has no control. No we can not accept it”. 

The result was that the report was rejected. 

PC Joshi Committee 1982

Congress appointed PC Joshi Committee in 1982, whose main term of reference was to prepare a software plan for Doordarshan. But this group also emphasized on the absence of “Functional Freedom” in Prasar Bharati. This committee said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should be reorganized and a separate board on the lines of Railway Board should be created, in which only people with professional experience should get entry. 

So, slowly a consensus developed for a Television Authority of India -as a public trust and under the control of the parliament and officed with only experienced professionals. 

Sam Pitroda Committee 2014

The Prasar Bharati Expert Committee, headed by technocrat Sam Pitroda, submitted its report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Its main recommendations involved a need for greater autonomy. There were 11 expert groups under this committee:

1. Expert group on Prasar Bharati- Government Relationship

2. Expert group on technology

3. Expert group on Business development

4. Expert group on Finance

5. Expert group on HR and organisation

6. Expert group on programming and content

7. Expert group on Archiving

8. Expert group on Global Initiatives

9. Expert group on presence on social and new emerging media

10.Expert group on Regulatory mechanism

11.Expert group on a comparative analysis of public service broadcasters 

The expert group working for developing a viable model for public service broadcasting in the Indian context included Prof. Vartika Nanda, Head of Department of Journalism, LSR among notable members.

Recommendations:

• Amend the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 to give effective freedom to the Prasar Bharati with administrative and financial powers

• To give power to Prasar Bharati to frame rules and regulations and hire manpower without going to the government for approval. In other words, Prasar Bharati’s vision must be to become a “genuine public broadcaster” rather than a “government broadcaster”

• The public broadcaster should monetize all available assets to enhance funding.

• Make Direct-To-Home (DTH) signals the primary mode of transmitting content for Doordarshan.

• To set up Prasar Bharati Connect (PBC), as the third arm of PSB, apart from Doordarshan and AIR.

• Creation of dedicated, multi- platform channels for dissemination of Prasar Bharati archival products.

PRASAR BHARATI OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://prasarbharati.gov.in/default.aspx

-Compiled by Nimisha Bansal 

Media as agents of social change

From waking up every morning to the alarm’s tring to sleeping every night after replying to WhatsApp’s last ping, our day is completely occupied by the media.

A cup of tea in one hand and a newspaper in the other is still not a practice of the good old days, it’s a tradition still followed happily and curiously.

The issues neglected, voices unheard, letters unread are not just left but brought to the limelight by the most powerful tool of communication: THE MEDIA.

Living in New Delhi doesn’t mean that one is in isolation from the rest of the world. One has the power of media with oneself to acquire knowledge about every important issue that exists in the global village called the World.

The aim of this article is to bring to notice how issues neglected by the society are being brought into the limelight by the different media platforms.

Let us begin with a recent example of the ICC WOMEN’S WORLD CUP being not only telecasted internationally but also gathering equally wide viewership across the globe. The spectators had big screens put up at every nook and corner of every  street just like they do during ICC MEN’S CRICKET matches. Post match, the team bagged appreciation and invitations from various media channels to make their long struggle known to the world. Names like Smriti Mandhana, and Mithali Raj are not unfamiliar to us anymore. This is how media not only brought them to centre stage but also made them role models and a definite source of inspiration for thousands of girls to follow.

Media creates awareness, and educates people about the various programmes of social importance like BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO.

Issues like the menstrual cycle of women which earlier was something not to be talked about in public and work as it was considered a depressant for young girls has now gathered attention to such an extent that the movie PADMAN is all set to hit the box office. Not only one but many issues like lack of toilets for women forcing them to defecate in open have been portrayed clearly in movies like TOILET EK PREM KATHA, which made its place on the big screen. Shubh Mangal Savdhaan, yet another example, appealed to the audiences because of the theme of erectile dysfunction it featured. 

Slowly and gradually, we see media, strongly and responsibly, using the platforms to bring in social issues from silence to debates. The stereotype that women are meant for just chores at home is being broken, the notion of washing work being restricted to them is being questioned in present day ads. The taboo that only sons can carry the family business forward is being challenged in the Star Plus campaign NAYI SOCH, through the ad of a sweet shop - GURDEEP SINGH AND DAUGHTERS. Father's name only carries importance is now a talk of the old gone days. Now we even see the legendary cricketers like MS DHONI, VIRAT KOHLI, AJINKYA RAHANE wearing their mother’s name on their jersey, thus carrying forward the NAYI SOCH for women’s empowerment. All these acts bearing strong messages of social awareness are spread by the power of media.

Media is not just restricted to the mainstream platforms but is also providing alternatives in the form of social media for the voice of the people to be raised. We see Citizen Journalism slowly widening it’s roots and making its place in the mainstream media in the form of the buzz word User Generated Content.

The ever loved media form of TV too brings in with it not just the soaps but also shows like SATYAMEV JAYATE which highlight the various unnoticed issues of the society as well as the solutions to them through stories narrated by victims. The government run health campaigns like POLIO DROPS, PRECAUTIONS TO FIGHT DENGUE, and MATERNAL HEALTHCARE are brought to people’s reach only through their frequent featuring in ads throughout the day.

Not just this we see the element of interactivity coming up in the evergreen medium of newspapers via a space for readers to send in their views and content to make them feel like  a part of the newspaper.

The Electronic media has also given birth to a new horizon of E-Governance where the complaints, the queries, and the shortcomings in the various governance fields are addressed  at a fast pace.

A number of examples can be given, such as when help reached out within the  earliest possible time to the passengers in a running train because of a simple tweet to the minister of railways. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu’s Twitter account is an example of it. Another appropriate example that can be quoted is that of the Foreign Ministry where required help is provided to the people globally  , not only to Indians outside the country but also to ailing non-Indians wanting any kind of help outside or in the country.

Not just this, we even have the Prime Minister sharing his ‘MANN KI BAAT’ with the nation on simple issues ranging from class 12^th board examination to the complex issue of death of infants in Gorakhpur.

Radio as a medium is preferred for widest reach. The requests of people collected prior to the talk are also addressed. Feedback taken through social media also forms an important part of the monthly interaction with the nation.

Media today can prove the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. This is the quantum of its power and impact. Media plays a very important role in transforming the country and can help in making the dream of a “NEW INDIA” come true. Remember, just as a shadow follows a human, so does responsibility follow power.

-Shraddha Acharya, Student of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College for Women