Will try to act on recommendations, Tewari to women panelists

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari Wednesday assured participants at a national meet on women and media that the ministry would try to act on three-four "doable" recommendations of the panel before the model code of conduct for the general elections is announced.

Addressing the valedictory function of the National Consultation on Women and Media here, Tewari said his ministry would study the recommendations made by the panelists on the status of women and try to implement a few of them.

"Between three to five recommendations that are doable in the short term... and issues pertaining to women won't get constrained by the model code of conduct. Let me see how many we are able to recommend," he said, to applause from the largely women audience.

On the women's reservation bill, a major demand of the panelists, the minister said the bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is trying to build consensus on it.

"There is resistance in the Lok Sabha. But discussions have been held in the cabinet committee of parliamentary affairs. The government is committed to putting it on the table of the Lok Sabha in this session," he said.

Among the recommendations of the National Consultation on Women and Media are that working conditions of women journalists should be improved, equal wages for women journalists, basic amenities like toilets to be provided, implementing the Vishaka guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace, gender sensitisation of reportage among others.

Tewari also said the proposed Cinematograph Bill 2013 as suggested by the Justice Mudgal Committee Report had incorporated the contemporary changes and addressed the needs of the film and creative industry.

He said the proposed bill had taken into the need to address gender concerns so as to ensure a correct and positive portrayal of women.

In order to ensure a comprehensive legislation, the bill had been put up on the website of the ministry so as to solicit the opinion of key stakeholders and the public.

He said that for the first time, a sunset clause defining the time span of the proposed bill was being incorporated.