Maharashtra's draft women's policy proposes separate Censor Board for TV channels

Draft Women's Policy proposes separate 

Censor Board for TV channels 

(Published in 'The Hitavada' on March 11, 2013)

* The newly released draft also talks of banning publication of pornographic or vulgar photographs in print media and websites

* Recommends stringent law to curb sex scandals

By Kartik Lokhande

For the first time, Maharashtra Government has proposed to restructure the existing Censor Board for Film Certification and also to have an independent Censor Board for television channels to monitor content that ‘commodifies’ women. These two are some of the major steps proposed in the draft Women’s Policy of the State Government.

In the draft that was handed over to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan by Minister for Woman and Child Development Varsha Gaikwad on the International Women’s Day, several measures have been proposed. In the segment on cultural thought on the policy, some steps have been recommended to change the image of women being projected through audio-visual media. To change the perception about victims of rape, Devdasi, prostitutes, imprisoned women, minority women, unorganised women workers, divorced and deserted women, transgenders, Tamasha artists etc, the Government has proposed to make necessary changes in the curriculum at appropriate levels of education system.

However, the most important recommendations relate to television channels, films, documentaries, and audio-visual media. To bring about change in projection of women as ‘commodity’ in films and documentaries, the draft Women’s Policy proposed to restructure existing Censor Board for Film Certification. “A sensitive person should be appointed as Chairperson of Censor Board instead of a person associated with television, films, advertisements etc,” it states. Besides, half of the members of Censor Board should be social workers and non-official persons with 50 per cent of them being women.

As a measure to curb pornographic and vulgar representation of women on television channels in the name of ‘item songs’ etc, the draft Policy recommends to put in place an independent Censor Board for television channels. Unless this Censor Board approves, no song or content should be aired on television channels or websites. Further, newspaper content should be cleaner, states the Policy. “Ban will be imposed on websites of news publications and newspapers publishing pornographic and vulgar photographs,” states the draft. Still, if vulgar advertisements or posters or content is released, ‘stringent action’ will be taken against producer concerned. If required, the definition of what constitutes ‘vulgarity’. This indicates at making amendments to existing laws to make them tougher to safeguard interests of women.

Against the backdrop of sex scandals coming to the fore in various parts of the State, the draft Women’s Policy has recommended to enact a tough law and strict guidelines encompassing various sectors in which women work. In the recent times, sex scandals were exposed in Satara, Sangli, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and other places. However, the investigating machinery faced problems as there were no strong legal provisions to deal with such cases. The cops had to make arrests and file chargesheet under various sections of different laws. Identifying this problem, the draft Women’s Policy has recommended enaction of a tougher law and proper guidelines.

Some more recommendations

* Of a total revenue generated in the State, 10 per cent should be allocated for ‘Gender Budget’ and this should be utilised for welfare of women. Government to audit ‘Gender Budget’ every year and submit the report to State Legislature.

* Specialised Treatment Department for rape victims in Government hospitals

* Health Department to set up special treatment centres for rape victims at various places

* Number of constables to be increased in sensitive areas and roads

* Police assistance centres to be set up in remote and very remote areas

* Increasing police patrolling at night

* Number of women officers in mobile squad of cops to be increased

* Expanding coverage of telephone booths to help emergency calling

* Fast Track Courts at division-level and appointment of women judges to deal with cases relating to atrocities against women

* Family Court to be set up in every district

* Training to be imparted to cops to deal women-related cases sensitively