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Tag: Information and Broadcasting Ministry

  • Forty complaints relating to ads of health and personal care apart from education upheld by ASCI

    Forty complaints relating to ads of health and personal care apart from education upheld by ASCI

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has stepped up its action against advertisements making misleading claims, the Advertising Standards Council of India the health and personal care sector leads with a whopping 52 per cent ads (148 out of 287) complaint upheld in the first four months of 2013.

    ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against forty advertisements relating to health, personal care, and education.

    With the Ministry increasingly referring ads to it as part of a self-regulatory process, ASCI is proactively strengthening its awareness to cover ads in every media form.

    For the first time in April, ASCI received and upheld a complaint against an SMS ad sent out by Hardcastle Restaurants for McDonalds.

    The CCC found several claims in the Health & Personal Care product or service ads released in (newspapers) the press to be either misleading or false or not adequately/scientifically substantiated and violating Chapter I of the ASCI code. Some of the Health Care products or services ads also contravened the provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act and complaints against them were upheld.

    • Naaz India Company: Naaz Fat Cut Granuals in their advertisement claimed that they are a ‘new invention regarding obesity‘, ‘result of 10 years of hard work of doctors‘, ‘no side effects on body‘, ‘body does not become over weight or underweight‘, ‘skin becomes tighter, youthful, beautiful &doesn‘t loosen again‘, ‘stomach becomes flat for sure‘, ‘government recognized medicine‘, ‘expert doctors of Naaz India health care company have made Naaz cut granules for complete fat reduction & it is approved by Government Ayurveda department of India‘.
    • Sagar Dispensary‘s advertisement claimed that ‘Dr. S.A. Ali is an expert in STD‘. ‘Treats patients with problems like less sperms, impotence & provides complete and permanent cure‘, ‘our successful treatment has cured lakhs of disheartened patients and given them new life‘.
    • Anant Clinic‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides successful cure of male infertility‘, ‘internal weakness‘, ‘premature ejaculation erectile dysfunction‘, ‘childlessness‘, ‘skin disease‘, ‘psoriasis and tumour in breast‘.
    • GM Pharmacy: Sadabahar Sugar Free‘s advertisement claimed that ‘Sadabahar sugar free is a diabetes killer powder‘, ‘most effective medicine in diabetes‘.
    • Nature Green Herbal Care‘s advertisement claimed that, ‘it increases time of your sexual activities‘, ‘made with miraculous desi herbs‘, ‘100 per cent result, and no side effect‘.
    • Herbal Icon India: Trugesic‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘helps to get rid of kidney stones in just 9 day course‘, ‘magical ayurvedic medicine‘.
    • Alshifa Churna‘s advertisement claimed that it gives ‘result in 10 days of extra fat reduction on stomach‘, ‘gets you relief from constipation, sugar, high blood pressure, gas, acidity and piles without operation‘.
    • Sarkar Dispensary‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘is the Best Ayurvedic clinic of 2011‘
    • NCP Herbal: Sovolin Ayurvedic‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘gives soft, smooth and silky skin with the touch of Sovolin which other cannot give‘.
    • IPSA Labs: Eraser Ayurvedic Skin Cream‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘is a mixture of 8 essential herbs which removers every kind of spots from your face and skin‘.
    • Musli Sakthi Herbals: Musli Sakthi‘s advertisement claimed that there‘s ‘no need of Viagra now‘, ‘first time in the world Musli Sakthi in silver colour powder form‘. ‘Complete result within 7 days‘, ‘happiness in sex and immediate solution for the sex problems‘.
    • Gogaji Hair & Skin Care Centre: Gogaji Hair Oil‘s advertisement claimed that ‘Gogaji Hair Oil stops baldness, stops hair fall.‘
      Stammering Cure Centre advertisement claimed that the centre ‘Partha Bagchi (world leader in stammering cure since 22 years) cures stammering in 12 days.‘
    • R K Herbals Pharmacy‘s advertisement claimed that ‘this formula is 400 years old and has been used by the Nawabs and the Maharajahs to enhance their sexual life.‘ ‘It improves vitality, increases volume and quality of semen, helps in treating erectile dysfunction.‘
    • Raj Power Capsules‘s advertisement claimed that ‘relief to sex weakness in males within 2 hours‘, , ‘nervous weakness‘, ‘quick disposal of sperms‘, ‘inability to enjoy long time sex‘, ‘sex effects due to diabetes to cure all these problem‘.
    • KPR Herbals‘s advertisement claimed that ‘Sex weakness in men and all sex related diseases can be cured by Power Booster‘, ‘not interested in sex‘, ‘couldn‘t achieve complete satisfaction in sex‘, ‘erotic problems‘, ‘fast disposal of semen while on sex‘, ‘couldn‘t satisfy sexually your mate‘, ‘weakness of sperms all these can be cured through our herbal medicine treatment‘.
    • Lotus Granges (India): Scent Soft Bio‘s advertisement claimed that ‘it is made to eliminate objectionable odour with helpful microbes, which digest bad smell‘.
    • Naaz India Company: Naaz Hair Up Oil‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘stops hair fall‘, ‘provides successful cure of baldness‘.
      Kamboj Foods: Kamboj Proper Diet‘s print advertisement claimed that ‘Benefits of Kamboj Proper Diet 100 per cent Natural QPM grain are that, it helps you rid of obesity and weakness, increases IQ and immunity power, makes your married life happy, keeps IT professionals away from stress.‘

    EDUCATION

    With admission process having begun in various institutions, the CCC upheld several claims in print ads by 12 different advertisers as they were not substantiated, thus violating the ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions.

    • Lakhani Academy advertisement claimed that ‘Lakhani Academy will give 100 per cent fees refund, if students fail in IPCC/CPT.‘
      Indian Institute of Learning & Advanced Development‘s advertisements claimed ‘100 per cent assured placement‘, ‘earn back upto 100 per cent of course fee‘.
    • Maharishi Basant Tutorials in its advertisement claimed that ‘guaranteed success program for IIT-Jee, else 100 per cent fee refunds‘.
      Alchemist‘s advertisement claimed that ‘it has more than 22 students in 99 percentile and 78 students in 95 percentile‘.
      Mukils English Academy‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides 100 per cent job guarantee on all courses‘.
    • IT‘S THE Education Group, Sai National Intuition of Technology (SNIT)‘ & Tulip India‘s advertisement claimed that they ‘provide 100 per cent placement‘.
    • Fastrack Institute of Technology‘s advertisement claimed, ‘100 per cent Job Guarantee‘ & ‘100 per cent Course Completion Guarantee‘.
      Swami Vivekanand Institute of Technology‘s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides 200 per cent placement.‘
    • Saffron Eduworld: Saffron Eduworld Coaching‘s advertisement claimed ‘JEE 100 per cent guaranteed result or money back.‘
      INPTC advertisements claimed ‘100 per cent placement‘ & ‘INPTC-
    • Mahatma Tutorials: The advertisement claimed that Mahesh Tutorials ‘provides 100 per cent success guarantee‘.
    • Subhash Bose Institute of Hotel Management: The advertisement claimed that ‘273 out of 273 students were placed in 2012‘ by the institute.
    • Amity University: In the ‘MBA 2013 Admission Notice‘ print advertisement, the Amity University is showing its rankings given by ‘Business Today‘ and ‘The Economic Times‘ without providing the details of the years of ranking which is misleading.

    OTHER FMCG:

    Ganesh Wheat Product: Ganesh Atta‘s print advertisement claimed that they are ‘processed through reverse osmosis, Ganesh bajra Atta and Ganesh Makkai Atta, prevent several health hazards and give you more nutritious and delicious rotis every day, Bajra (pearl millet) and Makai (Maize) are processed through water purified by reverse osmosis which makes the rotis more wholesome‘. These claims need to be substantiated. In the absence of comments from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claims mentioned in the advertisement were not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

    CONSUMER DURABLES:

    Aqua Corporation: Aqua Pure Guard Water Purifier‘s print advertisement claimed that it is ‘World‘s No.1 water purifier‘. This claim needs to be substantiated. In the absence of comparative data from the Advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claim, ‘World‘s No.1 water purifier‘, was not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

    OTHERS:

    Hardcastle Restaurants: – McDonald‘s promotional SMS shows ‘McVeggie or McChicken FREE on order of Rs. 200/- above with McDonalds. Mention coupon code MCD07 while ordering, valid till 7/1/13. Call Now 66000666. T & C.‘ The complainant was at the McDonald counter at the Food Court, Inorbit Mall, Malad(West) on 6/1/2013 and was informed that this SMS was sent purely for home delivery ONLY.

    According to the complaint, (The) the SMS advertisement that McDonalds sent was totally misleading. It simply said “call now” and not that it applies only for “Home Delivery”. The CCC concluded that the advertisement – SMS was misleading by omission, as it did not mention that the offer of a free McVeggie or McChicken applies only to Home Delivery. The advertisement – SMS contravened Chapter I.4 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

    Pernod Ricard India: Jacob‘s Creek, the print advertisement is a promotion of a liquor brand. Advertising of liquor is prohibited is prohibited by most States. The CCC concluded that the communication was an Advertorial pertaining to a Surrogate product. The complaint was UPHELD as it contravened the Brand Extension Guidelines as mentioned in Chapter III.6 of the Code.

    Dr. Nigam‘s Health: Dr. Nigam Hair Multiplication‘s “Dr. Nigam” has been tarnishing the brand of RichFeel and maligning it in their ads. The brand has also been deliberately using RichFeel‘s brand template colour and a misrepresented brand look alike logo (RichFeel‘s logo has two E‘s, one of which is a mirror image of the other) as well, besides picking up scientifically proven points pertinent to RichFeel in their communication and negatively portraying the brand. The CCC concluded that the advertiser has made unjustifiable use of the name of Richfeel and taken unfair advantage of the goodwill attached to its trade mark and goodwill acquired by its advertising campaign. The advertisement contravened Chapter IV.2 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

    Akansha Hair & Skin Care Herbal Unit: Akansha Sukhparash‘s advertisement claimed that it‘makes your face fair and removes wrinkles from your face‘. After reviewing the advertisement and advertiser‘s response, the CCC concluded that the claim, “makes your face fair”, was not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. This complaint was UPHELD. After reviewing the advertisement, the CCC realized that the ad does not claim to remove wrinkles from face, this complaint was NOT UPHELD.

    During the month of April, the CCC also received complaints against 11 other advertisements. The complaints were received against the advertisements of Aviva Life Insurance Company India Ltd, Euro Fashion Inners International (P) Ltd – Euro Briefs, Great Eastern Management School – GEMS B School, Hindustan Unilever Ltd – Comfort 1 Rinse Fabric Conditioner, Keya Seth‘s Ayurvedic Solution – Keya Seth‘s Umbrella Sunscreen Lotion, Kaleesuwari Refinery Pvt Ltd – Gold Winner Sunflower Oil, Mankind Pharma Ltd -Manforce Condom, McNROE Consumer Products P. Ltd – Wild Stone Deodorant, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd- Vespa, Times Business Solutions Ltd – Magicbricks.com, United Spirits Ltd – Kingfisher. However, as these advertisements did not contravene ASCI‘s codes or guidelines, the complaints were NOT UPHELD.

  • TRAI extends date for comments on consultation paper on monopoly/market dominance in Cable TV Services

    TRAI extends date for comments on consultation paper on monopoly/market dominance in Cable TV Services

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today extended till 1 July the date for comments on its consultation paper on Monopoly/Market Dominance in Cable TV services issued on 3 June.

    At the request of stakeholders, TRAI also announced that counter-comments would be received by 8 July.

    The paper was aimed at wanting to know if stakeholders agree that the State should be the relevant market for measuring market power in the cable TV sector or suggest alternatives.

    In the first place, TRAI which said it had issued the paper at the instance of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, wanted to know if stakeholders agree that there is a need to address the issue of monopoly/market dominance in cable TV distribution and how the ill effects of monopoly/market dominance can be addressed.

    The paper contains a series of fifteen questions touching various aspects.

    TRAI has sought to know whether, to curb market dominance and monopolistic trends, restrictions in the relevant cable TV market should be based on area of operation or based on market share.

    Those who feel it should be based on area of operation will have to specify how the area of a relevant market ought to be divided amongst MSOs for providing cable TV service.

    Those who feel it should be based on market share, what should be the threshold value of market share beyond which an MSO is not allowed to build market share on its own. Furthermore, how this can be achieved in markets where an MSO already possesses market share beyond the threshold value. Furthermore, TRAI wants comments on the suitability of the rules defined in the paper in this connection.

    Stakeholders have to give their views about the threshold values increase indicated by the regulator, or suggest defining restrictions.

    TRAI wants to know if ‘control’ of an entity over other MSOs/LCOs be decided according to the conditions mentioned in the paper or suggestion on alternatives.

    Stakeholders wanting different restrictions to curb market dominance have been asked to suggest these.

    TRAI has also sought to know whether the parameters listed by it in the paper are adequate with respect to mandatory disclosures for effective monitoring and compliance of restrictions on market dominance in Cable TV sector, and the periodicity of such disclosures.

    The regulator wants to know of any amendments to be made in the statutory rules/executive orders for implementing the restrictions.

  • MSOs have over 2 mn STBs in stock: Govt

    MSOs have over 2 mn STBs in stock: Govt

    NEW DELHI: The government has brushed aside claims that the second phase of digitisation in 38 cities by 31 March could hit a rough patch due to shortage of set-top boxes (STBs) in the marketplace. Providing fresh update, the government has said that multi-system operators (MSOs) have around 2.23 million STBs in stock while another 2.02 million are under procurement.

    A few days back, the government had claimed that the 38 cities had already gone through 55 per cent digitisation. Coupled with the new set of data, the government apparently feels that the second phase of digitisation should face no problems so far as availability of boxes go.

    Information and Broadcasting Ministry says while it is not responsible for seeding of the digital STBs, it had been constantly monitoring the preparedness for the implementation of digital addressable cable TV system (DAS) in the 38 cities of Phase II which comprise around 16 million television households.

    According to data received by the Ministry from the DTH operators and MSOs, a total of 8.77 million STBs have already been installed in Phase II cities as on 22 February. Out of the total of 8.77 million, DTH connections accounted for 4.07 million while cable STBs accounted for 4.7 million.

    The Ministry has set up a Task Force exclusively for Phase II cities to oversee and monitor the digitisation process. A public awareness Committee has also been constituted in the Ministry for spearheading awareness campaign and all TV channels have started to run a scroll informing consumers about the deadline for cable TV digitisation.

    Ministry sources said the STBs are being procured mostly from China and Korea, but some are also being obtained indigenously.

    The Consumer Electronics and Appliance Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) is also a member of the Task Force and is pushing the production of indigenous STBs.

    The Government announced a customs duty of ten per cent on imported STBs in the Union Budget in an attempt to encourage indigenous production.

  • Budget: Customs duty on imported STBs doubled

    Budget: Customs duty on imported STBs doubled

    NEW DELHI: The government has decided to double the customs duty on imported set-top boxes (STBs) to ten per cent, a move set to encourage domestic manufacturers but to have immediate consequences on prices and possibly hurt multi-system operators (MSOs) and DTH companies.

    The government feels that domestic production of STBs would get a stimulus even as implementation of digitisation spreads across the country.

    Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in his Budget speech for 2013-14 that the aim was also at value addition in the sector.

    With the first phase of digitisation having commenced in the metros (barring Chennai where it is held up by a court case) on 1 November last year and the second phase of switch-off of analogue signals scheduled for 31 March, the country is facing acute shortage of standardised STBs and has to depend on imported boxes.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had last month urged the Finance Ministry to remove the anomaly between imported and indigenous STBs.

    Countdown had commenced in late November for the second phase covering 38 cities in 15 states.

    The Ministry had issued a notification on 11 November 2011 notifying Phase-wise digitisation of Analogue Cable Television Networks in India.

    The aim is to digitize the cable sector in the country by 31 December 2014. The target date for completely digitising cable sector in cities with population of more than one million is 30 March 2013, all urban areas by 30 September 2014, and the whole country by 31 December 2014.

    For the second phase, the 38 specific cities and areas which have been listed in the notification are – Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Patna, Indore, Bhopal, Thane, Ludhiana, Agra, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Vadodara, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Rajkot, Meerut, Kalyan-Dombivali, Varanasi, amrtisar, Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad, Solapur, Allahabad, Jabalpur, Srinagar, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Howrah, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Mysore and Jodhpur.

  • 43rd IFFI goes live on social media with dedicated link on YouTube

    43rd IFFI goes live on social media with dedicated link on YouTube

    PANAJI: Even as the national television network Doordarshan aired live the grandeur of the opening ceremony of the Festival on 20 November, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry came out with a new initiative by streaming live the entire programme for about three hours on YouTube.

    While the Ministry had gone on YouTube just over two months earlier, it has attempted to bring to life the IFFI through its link http://www.youtube.com/user/INBMINISTRY/videos where it is also placing short promotional of various films of the festival, and will also carry interviews of important dignitaries.

    The objective of launching the channel was to reach out to the young population of the country, sensitizing them about the Government’s policies and programmes. At the same time, the channel has provided a window to disseminate information on key issues and events regularly in an effective manner.

    Since its launch, the channel has successfully incorporated a bouquet of programmes on the platform catering to different cross sections. The uploaded programmes include Live streaming of events, news capsules of two to three minutes duration, campaign spots, short films and documentaries, classical music, inspirational speeches, etc. The response has been overwhelming. Till date the channel has received about 25000 video views and has approximately 295 subscribers.

    The channel has provided the Ministry the opportunity to integrate communication and content on a newly emerging platform. The content is regularly updated on a day to day basis through the social media cell set up for this purpose.

    The 43rd IFFI is being publicized and promoted in a big way through the channel thereby giving it a better profile on the social media network.

    Some of the Events proposed to be covered on a daily basis are: Interviews of Film Directors and Producers of National and International Fame; Tributes and Retrospectives of Indian Panorama; Master Classes for budding filmmakers; some sideline stories about Goan culture, heritage etc.; and Cultural Performances of Goa.

  • FTII gearing up to face the digital challenge

    FTII gearing up to face the digital challenge

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan will telecast live the closing ceremony of the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and animation films ending tomorrow.

    The telecast on the national channel will be from 5 pm, from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai.

    Meanwhile, Film and Television Institute of India (Pune) Director D J Narain said today that the Institute was gearing itself for the digital challenge in film making.

    “A fortnight ago, Kodak has filed for bankruptcy and the writing is on the wall. Digital technology is the future and FTII is seized of the developments and restructuring accordingly”, he said in a press conference in MIFF 2012.

    Narain said a Group of Experts constituted by the Governing Council of FTII has prepared a Detailed Project Report for the Institute, laying down the path to be followed. As part of modernisation plan, FTII proposes to have additional facilities in terms of introduction of new technologies, screening theatres, studio floors, classrooms and hostels for the existing and proposed new courses.

    At the same time, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is also working on getting the FTII declared a ‘Centre of Excellence‘ through an Act of Parliament.

    Narain said the FTII‘s courses are being restructured and all one-year courses are being converted into full fledged three-year courses, consisting of one-year foundation training and two years of specialisation. While new courses will be introduced keeping pace with changes in film-making, the grammar would continue to remain same.

    “Digital technology is capable of breaking the stranglehold of heavy capital investment, but creativity needs to be nurtured in an institutional framework”, Narain said.

    He admitted that while Government control ensures equity, some of the rules and regulations act as constraints in attracting the best talent for the teaching faculty. As a result, FTII has to depend heavily on visiting guest faculty from Mumbai.

    Narain said, “while FTII alumni are part of who‘s who of the film industry, the present crop is no less talented”. He said three films – Khara Karodpati by Piyush Thakur, One Two by Prantik Basu and Light Animation by the Animation batch – are in Competition section of the Festival.

    The FTII has also sent 15 other films in the Retrospective made by legends like Kumar Shahani, Girish Kasarvalli, and Rajan Khosa among others.

    Meanwhile, more than 10 films from the Public Service Broadcasting Trust – which is partly funded by Prasar Bharati – are being screened in various categories of the Festival dealing with diverse subjects. They include Sumit Khanna‘sAll Rise for Your Honour, Bit of Both – the Disappearing Horizon, Umesh Agarwal‘s Brokering News (on the menace of paid news), Eer.. Stories in Stone by Shri Prakash on tribal art, Journey to Nagaland (an animation film by Aditi Chitre), Arun Chaddha‘s Mindscapes of Love and Longing (exploring the sexuality of people with disabilities), Shabani Hassanwalia and Samreen Farooqi‘s Online and Available (on social networking sites), Sab Leela Hai by Nirmal Chander, So Heddan So Hoddan by Anjali Monteiro and K. P. Jayasankar, and Lalit Vachani‘sTales from Napa which is the remarkable story of a little village that resisted the forces of Hindu fundamentalism during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat.

  • Centre condemns Sena attack, denies charges relating to censoring of Marathi films

    Centre condemns Sena attack, denies charges relating to censoring of Marathi films

    NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied the allegation by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena that Marathi films are being certified by non-Marathi knowing persons.


    A day after the CBFC office at Walkeshwar Road in Mumbai was ransacked allegedly by MNS supporters, CBFC has clarified that its Advisory Panel of 123 members has 47 members, whose mother tongue is Marathi. Almost all the films are certified at the local level by the Advisory Panel, which consist of members drawn from various fields.


    Only those films, where the producer is not satisfied with the certification granted by the Advisory Panel are referred to the Central Board for screening. Even in its Board, the CBFC has three members -Deepesh Mehta, Arundhati Nag, as well as Chairperson Leela Samson who are familiar with Marathi.


    CBFC enjoys an excellent rapport with the Marathi film industry and has not received any complaint from any quarter regarding the films not being certified judiciously. Therefore, the allegation of MNS is baseless and motivated, a press note issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry this evening said.


    The Ministry condemned this act of hooliganism and vandalism and said that such methods of protest have no place in a democratic and civilized society.


    The Ministry has also taken up this matter with utmost gravity with the Government of Maharashtra and has been assured of strong and deterrent preventive and punitive action.

  • Govt not to ban ads of fast food

    Govt not to ban ads of fast food

    NEW DELHI: The Government has no plans to ban advertisements of fast food products but is taking measures to promote healthy food habits through various measures.


    Reacting to some remarks by members of Parliament and some media reports, Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that adequate measures are taken by the Government to deal with the problems that may arise from the ill-effects – particularly obesity among children and youth.


    The sources also said all advertisements telecast on private television channels are to be strictly in accordance with the Advertising Code in Rule 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994.


    As far as the print media is concerned, there are provisions in the Norms of Journalistic Conduct issued by the Press Council of India, which also hears any complaints of violations.


    Among other steps, the Government has made it mandatory for all producers to give nutritional labeling on pre-packaged foods.