NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni yesterday informed that the FM Phase-III, that will roll out shortly, would ensure availability of 806 radio stations across 283 cities.
Sony was addressing the International Colloquium on Freedom of Expression and Human Rights. The two-day International Colloquium has been organised by the Press Council of India.
Elaborating on some of the "key initiatives" undertaken to ensure accountability and transparency in the government, Soni said that the Right to Information Act has 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 sensitised with quality information and vital statistics on key flagship programmes of the Government.
Soni also urged the media to avoid sensationalism and trivialising important news in the pursuit of commercial interests. The Minister added that the media ought to act as an enabler, giving voice to the voiceless in order to ensure that every marginal group is heard, seen and involved in the mainstream by highlighting issues that protect and enhance the dignity and self-esteem of such groups.
Soni said that while the government believes that human rights are inalienable and universal and the freedom of speech and expression flows from this, there is need for constant vigil in view of systemic changes.
Soni 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.
She stressed that during the period of global recession when the print media suffered globally, the Indian print industry grew at a rate of 6.2 per cent and the country today has 60,000 print publications. There are 350 million readers in the country.
She added that the Government also provided support to different newspapers through advertisements released by the Government, thus creating an enabling environment within the industry and especially the regional press.
The growing number of newspaper readers within the country is also an indicator of the growth of the regional press in different forms and dialects, she said.
In the broadcast sector, Soni pointed out that 653 satellite channels have been given permission till date of which 631 channels are already beaming
Meanwhile, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan director Kiran Mehra Kerpelman spoke of new threats to freedom of speech and expression because of rapid changes in technology. She said 500 mediapersons have been killed in the last decade, and 60 died in 2010 alone. She wanted the media to maintain a balance between the freedom of expression and speech and responsibility.
Former PCI member Ramesh Gupta said there is a heavy responsibility on the media not to tamper with truth. Communication should not become misrepresentation or "dis-representation", he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Council chairman Justice GN Ray said the effort of the Press Counci is to ensure that media enjoyed the utmost freedom. However, it is necessary that the parameters of media ethics were clearly laid down. He stressed that despite some aberrations, India has a history of complete freedom of the press without any pre-censorship.
But he said the media should not lose sight of its role as the fourth estate in a democracy. The dignity of humanity necessitated that some ethics have to be observed.
At the same time, Secretary in the Council Vibha Bhargava expressed the hope that the Council will get more teeth as it had been demanding for some time now.
Media organisations from various countries like Australia, Austria, Turkey, Israel, Tanzania besides Indian representatives are participating in the deliberations at this International Colloquium.