Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said in the Lok Sabha today that self-regulation has been given a chance to succeed for controlling obscene and demeaning advertisements and content in the media. Replying to concerns raised by the members on advertisements derogatory to women aired by television channels, the Minister said, an all-party meeting should be held after the Group of Ministers on Media prepares the agenda.

Mrs. Soni said, her ministry has issued advisories to the television channels and 85 per cent success has been reported. She said, while most of them recast the advertisements, some are engaged in dialogue. There are also instances where the matter has gone to courts. Mrs. Soni said repeated violations of the advisories issued by her Ministry will be viewed seriously as negative points at the time of renewal of licenses
of television channels.

The minister said an inter-ministerial committee has also been set up for the purpose. As for the print media, the Press Council of India has issued a Code of Conduct for content and advertisement. The Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj also demanded an All-Party Meeting on the issue.

The Chairman of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Mr P L Punia took serious exception to the obscene content in the advertisements in TV channels. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, he said that the four-member inter-ministerial committee will take action on complaints of obscenity.