Enough mechanisms to check TV content, Rathore assures Lok Sabha

The minister said “that there should be accountability” and the government has “ensured it at many levels”. Rathore said “if any viewer feels there is a violation, they can write to these (fora)”. There are many laws, some pertaining to the I&B ministry, and others related to ministries which take care of the medium, he said.

There are more than 800 channels, Rathore said, and with the internet “this is an explosion” of channels, “which will grow not reduce”. Regarding the quality of content, Rathore assured the House that “market forces” have the capacity to take care of it as there is a “natural sense of competition”. “Whoever is the best will grow,” he said.

If channels close down, the competent people can get a job in other places, and the Companies Act has several provisions for the issues of employees’ welfare, the I&B minister said. He also mentioned that several channels are now showing positive news, including Doordarshan, as some members had stated that negative news was spreading negativity in the country.

On apprehensions over the qualifications of people employed by the channels, Rathore said that channels “have to develop faith” of the viewers in their content. Introducing the Bill, Patel had said that someone must ensure accountability of the channels. The intention was to ensure welfare of the employees of channels that shut down without notice, but Patel also wanted the House to debate other aspects. Patel, a BJP member from Narsinghpur, agreed to withdraw the Bill.