I & B Ministry asks broadcasters to give prime coverage to NE

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked broadcasters to give prime coverage to the north east region, especially while covering national events like the Republic Day.

In a letter to private satellite TV channels, the ministry referred to the recommendations of the committee headed by M P Bezbaruah, a member of North-Eastern Council, on the concerns of the people of north east living in other parts of the country.

It is important for the media to reach out to put north east on the national stage and prime coverage should be given to the north east region in the media, the ministry said.

It said in case of national events like the Republic Day, commentators should cover the event in the most effective way of presenting the north east.

As Bollywood plays a prominent role in forming images in minds of people, use of north east locales for movies should be encouraged. Such incentives may also encourage popular serials in TVs to look at the north east and even to include stories from the region in such serials, it said.

It also asked the media to be careful while covering sensitive race related issues and ensure that they become agents of diffusion of tension.