New Delhi: After a gap of almost two years, Ms Sushma Swaraj took charge as the information and broadcasting minister here on Tuesday. She's back with the same focus that she was remembered for two years ago - cleansing the idiot box of all `filth' and `obscenity'. Her straight focus on `clean TV' was a clear indicator that the amended Cable Network Act would find more teeth in Ms Swaraj's regime. On her first day in office, the minister was her usual self, wearing a starched cotton saree, her characteristic bindi and the intermittent smiles. She waited patiently for the TV channels to position their mikes on her table before she uttered her first word. But when she did talk, it wasn't much.Ms Swaraj outlined her priorities as the I&B minister as briefly as possible and evaded all queries from the press saying that it was too early for her to comment on anything. She needed to talk to the officials in the ministry before committing on anything, she emphasised. ``Give me a couple of days to understand the ongoing policies. Then I'll brief the press with complete details,'' she said.
However, the minister stated her priorities - both permanent and immediate. Her permanent priority, she maintained, is in continuation of what she was doing two years ago as the I&B minister. That is, to make television a family media. ``The ministry has to take a lot of steps to bring in changes in the TV programmes, so that families can sit together and watch programmes without any hesitation.'' She explained that most Indian homes have just one TV set and therefore there should not be any obscenity in any of the channels. The likes of f-channel, are you hearing? She did not elaborate on how the measure would be implemented.
Talking about her immediate priority, Ms Swaraj said that she would focus on resolving the strike by Film & TV Institute of India, and would also address the issues which led cable operators to go on a strike. Among other issues which are on her agenda include placing her views on the Prasar Bharati Review Committee recommendations and direct-to-home (DTH) television.
That was all that she said to the media on her first day in office. For she got down to business immediately. As soon as the camera lights switched off, she turned her attention to the Prasar Bharati CEO, Mr Rajiv Ratan Shah, who was waiting for quite sometime to update Ms Swaraj on a lot of developments.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.