MIB reviews working of RNI; statutory backing to Print Media Policy

M Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, recently chaired the meeting of Consultative Committee of I&B Ministry to discuss the working of the Registrar of Newspapers for India.

In his opening remarks, Naidu apprised the members of the committee about the steps being taken by the Ministry in order to streamline the processes and functioning of the Registrar of Newspapers of India. He said that RNI has been constantly re-engineering itself to make procedures and process simpler. The focus of the Ministry is to make the processes online, thereby promoting transparency and accountability.

The Minister further mentioned that in view of the phenomenal growth of the print media sector, particularly after the opening up of economy in 1990s, the print media policy/ guidelines had undergone some changes. There was a need to update contemporaries and revise the legal mechanism in the print sector and to give statutory backing to Print Media Policy and various guidelines. In this context, the Minister apprised the members about the salient features of the proposed Press and Registration of Books and Publication (PRBP) Bill.

Members of the committee gave suggestions regarding steps to be taken for modernisation of RNI, simplification of various processes use of technology. The Minister appreciated the suggestions received from the members and assured them that the suggestions would be duly considered.

A presentation was made by Joint Secretary on behalf of the Ministry, giving an overview of the functioning of the Registrar of Newspapers for India. Members of the committee were apprised about the achievements and e-initiatives of RNI, which included online filing of annual statement, titles, Tenders and an online grievance portal.

Parliamentarians Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Vivek Gupta, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, Dev (Moon Moon Sen) Varma, Harivansh, Tapas Paul and Innocent attended the meeting. Secretary I&B, Ajay Mittal, and senior officers of the Ministry were also present on the occasion.