ITV

Tag: Health Ministry

  • Plea against IPL: Madras HC issues notice to BCCI, Health Ministry

    Plea against IPL: Madras HC issues notice to BCCI, Health Ministry

    MUMBAI: The Madras High Court has ordered to issue notices to the BCCI and the union health ministry regarding a PIL against conducting IPL matches in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

    Adjourning the case, a bench comprising Justices MM Sundaresh and Krishnan Ramasamy sought responses from the ministry  and the BCCI before 23 March.

    The PIL had sought a direction to BCCI not to conduct IPL matches from 29 March to 24 May in view of the virus outbreak.

    The virus that first appeared in Wuhan city of China has spread to over 46 countries and entered India earlier this month.

    The country’s biggest cricketing event is scheduled between 29 March and 24 April.

  • Actors shown in smoking scenes in films or TV should promote anti-smoking

    Actors shown in smoking scenes in films or TV should promote anti-smoking

    NEW DELHI: The Shyam Benegal Committee on Film Certification, which earlier recommended that alterations or changes in any film can be made by the Central Board of Film Certification only with the consent of the rights holder, has now said that a “meaningful static disclaimer in the beginning of the film with standard visual background approved by the Ministry of Health may be shown for a minimum time period along with an audio backing it.”

    SMOKING SCENES

    In a supplementary report dealing only with smoking scenes and depiction of animals in films, it has said the disclaimer should be made in all Indian languages and made applicable to all Media Platforms.
    However, the periodicity of scenes depicting smoking should be avoided keeping in view the legislations in this regard.  
    The Committee also suggested that as an option, producers of that film can make a short film conveying an anti-smoking message ‘by the same actor who is depicted as smoking in the film’.  
    It also said the Film Industry should produce small films on anti-tobacco/smoking with popular actors on their own for screening in cinemas halls and on TV Channels. These may replace the present films in the Theatres and TV Channels shown after obtaining clearance from the Health & Family Welfare Ministry.

    SCENES SHOWING ANIMALS

    Referring to animal welfare and in response to the views of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the Committee was of the view that there is a need to bring about further clarity and  simplification of the process to allow film producers the operational flexibility that is critically required in any film project. Besides, a better and comprehensive definition of “performing animals” is needed.

    The Committee said there should be “licensed suppliers” of Performing Animals (PA) who are qualified in handling various animals and taking care of them as per requirement of the law, whose services can be hired by the Producers.

    Such a mechanism would be of great benefit to all stakeholders who need to engage such services. This type of facilitation is available internationally and could be supported by AWBI for adoption, it added.
    As an interim measure to cut down the time consumed, the Committee said that a directory of “certified (approved) personnel” of AWBI including veterinary personnel on the list of AWBI in different parts of the country may be published, enabling producers to intimate them the time of their shooting and, who would then be present at the time of shooting the performing animal scenes.

    Based on the report of such certified (approved) personnel, AWBI could issue the NOC. An appropriate fee for the services rendered by such AWBI empanelled experts could also be finalised by AWBI enabling the applicant / producers to remit the same directly to AWBI while availing the services of such empanelled persons.
    The Committee said often notices were issued by AWBI with regard to numerous instances where animals in normal settings during the course of shooting are interpreted as “performing animals”.

    In order to have some clarity on this, Committee said a “performing animal” in case of films may be defined as an animal which is written into the script of the movie, and is required to perform an act which it would not normally do. Such a clarification will allow automatic clearance for scenes of cows, goats, etc. apart from birds which often appear when picturising scenes in villages, small towns etc.

    However, it cautioned that it had to be kept in mind whether it is a genuine natural shot or staged for filming which would involve the hiring, transportation, etc. of the animal/s.

    The Committee suggests that in such situations, a self-declaration by the producers to this effect be submitted at the time of application to CBFC in lieu of an NOC from the AWBI.

    The Committee made its recommendations in the light of the current practice in both smoking scenes and those with animal depiction.  

    At present, the shorts on smoking are prepared by the Health Ministry under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco, Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2012.

    These rules say that all new Indian or foreign films and television programmes displaying tobacco products or their use shall have a strong editorial justification explaining the necessity of the display of the tobacco products or their use in the film, to the CBFC; and anti-tobacco spots of minimum 30 seconds duration each at the beginning and middle of the films and television programmes; apart from anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of display of the tobacco products or their use in the film and television programme. It is also stated that an audio-visual disclaimer on the ill-effects of tobacco use of minimum twenty seconds duration each in the beginning and middle of the film and television programme.

    The present rules with regard to use of animals flow from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001 and also the Bombay High Court Judgment on 22 August 2005 in the PETA case.  
    These require a Pre-shooting Permission and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and then it is left to AWBI to accept or deny permission.

    In its first report submitted to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on 26 April 2016 but placed on the Ministry’s website in late June, the Committee said that there should be no system of imposing excisions (as is practiced at present) and the CBFC must transition into solely becoming a film certification body, as indeed the name of the institution suggests.

    In recommendations that are bound to stir a major debate among moralists and others, the Government-appointed Committee was of the “unanimous view that the rights owner has complete rights over his/her film.”

     

  • Actors shown in smoking scenes in films or TV should promote anti-smoking

    Actors shown in smoking scenes in films or TV should promote anti-smoking

    NEW DELHI: The Shyam Benegal Committee on Film Certification, which earlier recommended that alterations or changes in any film can be made by the Central Board of Film Certification only with the consent of the rights holder, has now said that a “meaningful static disclaimer in the beginning of the film with standard visual background approved by the Ministry of Health may be shown for a minimum time period along with an audio backing it.”

    SMOKING SCENES

    In a supplementary report dealing only with smoking scenes and depiction of animals in films, it has said the disclaimer should be made in all Indian languages and made applicable to all Media Platforms.
    However, the periodicity of scenes depicting smoking should be avoided keeping in view the legislations in this regard.  
    The Committee also suggested that as an option, producers of that film can make a short film conveying an anti-smoking message ‘by the same actor who is depicted as smoking in the film’.  
    It also said the Film Industry should produce small films on anti-tobacco/smoking with popular actors on their own for screening in cinemas halls and on TV Channels. These may replace the present films in the Theatres and TV Channels shown after obtaining clearance from the Health & Family Welfare Ministry.

    SCENES SHOWING ANIMALS

    Referring to animal welfare and in response to the views of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the Committee was of the view that there is a need to bring about further clarity and  simplification of the process to allow film producers the operational flexibility that is critically required in any film project. Besides, a better and comprehensive definition of “performing animals” is needed.

    The Committee said there should be “licensed suppliers” of Performing Animals (PA) who are qualified in handling various animals and taking care of them as per requirement of the law, whose services can be hired by the Producers.

    Such a mechanism would be of great benefit to all stakeholders who need to engage such services. This type of facilitation is available internationally and could be supported by AWBI for adoption, it added.
    As an interim measure to cut down the time consumed, the Committee said that a directory of “certified (approved) personnel” of AWBI including veterinary personnel on the list of AWBI in different parts of the country may be published, enabling producers to intimate them the time of their shooting and, who would then be present at the time of shooting the performing animal scenes.

    Based on the report of such certified (approved) personnel, AWBI could issue the NOC. An appropriate fee for the services rendered by such AWBI empanelled experts could also be finalised by AWBI enabling the applicant / producers to remit the same directly to AWBI while availing the services of such empanelled persons.
    The Committee said often notices were issued by AWBI with regard to numerous instances where animals in normal settings during the course of shooting are interpreted as “performing animals”.

    In order to have some clarity on this, Committee said a “performing animal” in case of films may be defined as an animal which is written into the script of the movie, and is required to perform an act which it would not normally do. Such a clarification will allow automatic clearance for scenes of cows, goats, etc. apart from birds which often appear when picturising scenes in villages, small towns etc.

    However, it cautioned that it had to be kept in mind whether it is a genuine natural shot or staged for filming which would involve the hiring, transportation, etc. of the animal/s.

    The Committee suggests that in such situations, a self-declaration by the producers to this effect be submitted at the time of application to CBFC in lieu of an NOC from the AWBI.

    The Committee made its recommendations in the light of the current practice in both smoking scenes and those with animal depiction.  

    At present, the shorts on smoking are prepared by the Health Ministry under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco, Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2012.

    These rules say that all new Indian or foreign films and television programmes displaying tobacco products or their use shall have a strong editorial justification explaining the necessity of the display of the tobacco products or their use in the film, to the CBFC; and anti-tobacco spots of minimum 30 seconds duration each at the beginning and middle of the films and television programmes; apart from anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of display of the tobacco products or their use in the film and television programme. It is also stated that an audio-visual disclaimer on the ill-effects of tobacco use of minimum twenty seconds duration each in the beginning and middle of the film and television programme.

    The present rules with regard to use of animals flow from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001 and also the Bombay High Court Judgment on 22 August 2005 in the PETA case.  
    These require a Pre-shooting Permission and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and then it is left to AWBI to accept or deny permission.

    In its first report submitted to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on 26 April 2016 but placed on the Ministry’s website in late June, the Committee said that there should be no system of imposing excisions (as is practiced at present) and the CBFC must transition into solely becoming a film certification body, as indeed the name of the institution suggests.

    In recommendations that are bound to stir a major debate among moralists and others, the Government-appointed Committee was of the “unanimous view that the rights owner has complete rights over his/her film.”

     

  • Despite industry’s closure threats, govt. implements 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packets

    Despite industry’s closure threats, govt. implements 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packets

    New Delhi: Close on the heels of imposing stringent punishments to vendors of tobacco products in the vicinity of educational institutions in January and raising the tax in the budget in February, the Government has implemented its decision asking manufacturers to use 85 per cent space on tobacco packets on health warnings. The decision has come into effect from this month. An affidavit filed by the Health Ministry before the Rajasthan High Court on 28 March said the warning would appear on both sides of tobacco products and come into force from 1 April.

    This follows a decision taken in September last year, after an earlier order for implementation from April 2015 was stayed in June by the Government to allow a parliamentary committee to study the issue further. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Product (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act also prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to people below 18 years and in areas within a 100- metre radius of educational institutions.

    The Government nailed its latest decision by informing the Rajasthan High Court earlier this week to stick to its decision of 85 per cent pictorial warnings on every packet, thus forcing major tobacco companies to consider shutting shop in India. Interestingly, the Government has bypassed the advice of the Parliamentary Committee which recommended only 40 per cent pictorial warning. Until now, the coverage was forty per cent.

    The Tobacco Institute of India  said a unanimous ‘closure’ decision was  made by the players in the industry in response to the ‘ambiguity’ in the centre’s policy on pictorial warnings on tobacco product packs. Prominent members of the TII including ITC, Godfrey Phillips and VST have already announced their decision in this regard. ITC is already understood to have shut down five of its units. ITC, Godfrey Phillips and VST reportedly account for over 98 per cent of domestic cigarette sales, along with other members of the Institute.

    TII in a press release estimated a daily loss of Rs 350 crore in revenue for the tobacco industry from the production stoppage. It asserted that the revised pictorial warning would promote the trade in illegal cigarettes and affect the livelihood of 45.7 million (4.57 crore) people dependent on the industry.

    The Indian tobacco industry had in mid-March written to the Health Ministry seeking clarification but did not get any reply, leading to the decision for closure ‘fearing, potential violation of rules by continuing production.’
    TII has claimed that illegal cigarettes account for one-fifth of the industry, resulting in an annual revenue loss of Rs 9,000 crore to the exchequer. It even blamed ‘foreign-funded anti tobacco activists’ and ‘vested interests’ for pushing such a policy.

    In fact, many of the tobacco majors in the country have already made inroads in other sectors like hotels, FMCG etc.

  • Despite industry’s closure threats, govt. implements 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packets

    Despite industry’s closure threats, govt. implements 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco packets

    New Delhi: Close on the heels of imposing stringent punishments to vendors of tobacco products in the vicinity of educational institutions in January and raising the tax in the budget in February, the Government has implemented its decision asking manufacturers to use 85 per cent space on tobacco packets on health warnings. The decision has come into effect from this month. An affidavit filed by the Health Ministry before the Rajasthan High Court on 28 March said the warning would appear on both sides of tobacco products and come into force from 1 April.

    This follows a decision taken in September last year, after an earlier order for implementation from April 2015 was stayed in June by the Government to allow a parliamentary committee to study the issue further. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Product (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act also prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to people below 18 years and in areas within a 100- metre radius of educational institutions.

    The Government nailed its latest decision by informing the Rajasthan High Court earlier this week to stick to its decision of 85 per cent pictorial warnings on every packet, thus forcing major tobacco companies to consider shutting shop in India. Interestingly, the Government has bypassed the advice of the Parliamentary Committee which recommended only 40 per cent pictorial warning. Until now, the coverage was forty per cent.

    The Tobacco Institute of India  said a unanimous ‘closure’ decision was  made by the players in the industry in response to the ‘ambiguity’ in the centre’s policy on pictorial warnings on tobacco product packs. Prominent members of the TII including ITC, Godfrey Phillips and VST have already announced their decision in this regard. ITC is already understood to have shut down five of its units. ITC, Godfrey Phillips and VST reportedly account for over 98 per cent of domestic cigarette sales, along with other members of the Institute.

    TII in a press release estimated a daily loss of Rs 350 crore in revenue for the tobacco industry from the production stoppage. It asserted that the revised pictorial warning would promote the trade in illegal cigarettes and affect the livelihood of 45.7 million (4.57 crore) people dependent on the industry.

    The Indian tobacco industry had in mid-March written to the Health Ministry seeking clarification but did not get any reply, leading to the decision for closure ‘fearing, potential violation of rules by continuing production.’
    TII has claimed that illegal cigarettes account for one-fifth of the industry, resulting in an annual revenue loss of Rs 9,000 crore to the exchequer. It even blamed ‘foreign-funded anti tobacco activists’ and ‘vested interests’ for pushing such a policy.

    In fact, many of the tobacco majors in the country have already made inroads in other sectors like hotels, FMCG etc.

  • Doordarshan signs MOU to disseminate key health related schemes

    Doordarshan signs MOU to disseminate key health related schemes

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan’s terrestrial and satellite channels will run video spots produced and provided by the Health Ministry aimed at informing and educating the target group of audience about sustained health campaigns.

     

    A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed today between Doordarshan and the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to facilitate the telecast of Ministry related video spots on Doordarshan’s national and regional networks.

     

    The MoU was signed by K.B. Agarwal, Additional Secretary, on behalf of the Health Ministry and Doordarshan director general C Lalrosanga. This MoU was signed in the presence of Health Ministry B P Sharma.

     

    The Health Ministry has placed business in excess of Rs 50 crore for this purpose. In turn Doordarshan has offered a special bonus plan to the Ministry, thus contributing towards the government goal of health for all.

     

    Sharma said this MoU would help the Health Ministry to disseminate its programmes of health and special messages of prevention of health across the country in different languages through the vast network of Doordarshan, which has the highest reach especially in rural areas.

     

    Lalrosanga said Doordarshan as a public service broadcaster has the primary responsibility to help various Ministries and Government departments to disseminate their schemes of social development to the needy and this is the primary reason that Doordarshan has extended special schemes to help the Ministry in reaching their target group. 

     

    Additional secretary N S Kang; joint secretaries Dharitri Panda and Rakesh Kumar; director Manisha Verma from the Health Ministry and DD additional director general Ranjan Mukherjee and deputy DG C K Jain were also present on the occasion.

  • Misleading ad gives wrong notions about blood donation: Health Ministry

    Misleading ad gives wrong notions about blood donation: Health Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Despite a letter to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) by the Health Ministry, an advertisement that can potentially mislead blood donors is still running on air.

     

    The advertisement has been put out by carwale.com – which sells used cars or car parts – and attempted to prove that the need for exactness in demand. The ad shows a doctor talking to someone on the phone for more blood for a patient. He says if you do not have more units of ‘A’, then send ‘AB’ type, and saying 19-20 ka farak hai (just a minor difference). The aim of the commercial is to say that there has to be exactness in what the customer wants.

     

    The Health Ministry has taken objection to the commercial as it creates doubts in the minds of the donors.

     

    The National AIDS Control Board, which is expected to check every blood sample for AIDS, has written to ASCI to ensure that the advertisement is pulled off air as it does not meet ASCI’s standards of honest representations.

     

    Under Indian laws, human blood is treated as a ‘drug’ under the Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Act. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, the Indian government made it mandatory for any donated blood to be tested for HIV 1&2 antibodies, giving the Blood Safety Programme to NACO.

     

    ASCI secretary-general Shweta Purandare told media that a decision on the complaint had not been taken yet. “We usually do not speak about individual complaints. In this case, we haven’t conveyed our final decision to the Ministry,” she said.