Social issues do sell on TV !

Normally in media we say that it is crime, politics, sleaze, something sexy which sells. Social issues are normally for documentaries, or may be Doordarshan will air. But the TRPs of Balika Vadhu, a social serial has proved this argument wrong.

Social issues don’t sell on TV channels. This statement may not be true anymore. TRPs of Balika Vadhu, a social serial on Colors on the issue of child marriage recently had more TRPs then Kyunki and Myaaka serials. Interestingly, its TRP was more than the shows engaging celebrities running on the same channel or for that matter many reality shows on TV.Normally in media we say that it is crime, politics, sleaze, something sexy which sells. Social issues are normally for documentaries, or may be Doordarshan will air, as it has that social responsibility.But may be not true any more -- Balika Vadhu, a serial on air nowadays on Colors TV Channel.

It sensitively raises concern on a social issue ’child marriage’ which still happens in India and is a reality. As of now this is one of the most viewed serials in general entertainment category or GEC as they say.Television Rating Points (TRP’s) of the show validate this fact. It is a flagship series of Viacoms’ Colors TV Channel. This serial has helped Colors to sail past 200 GRP (gross rating points), within two months of its launch. Colors is the first to hit that mark among the newly launched Hindi entertainment channels, one of the hit serial on that channel is Balika Vadhu. The serial is laid out in traditional Rajasthani style, with a great title song and simple music (unlike the varied back ground music we find in normal serials on air) and rightly brings out impact on child marriage on child life.It ends with a message line, reminding us that child marriage impacts the very fabric of child life and needs to be stopped. The serial attracts attention and glues you to it. The viewership of it has grown exponentially and viewers has remained with it. Thanks to the way it is written, directed and the enacted along with its great title track.It is aired Monday to Thursday on Colors TV at 8 pm slot. It has helped break the myth that social issues don’t sell. Balika Vadhu is an arduous journey of child bride Anandi, who is married off to a young boy, Jagdish.

The girl losses her normal childhood and has to move away from her parents (protective environment), to be bound by customs. I am hopeful this serial will help in bringing issue of deep rooted tradition of child marriage to debate in our society which impact lives of girls and women across India not only in Rajasthan. Inspite of all the laws this still happens and needs to stopped.One more issue while debating on children issues that needs discussion is about children who work in these serials. I am sure National Children’s Commission is looking into it, and restrictions will be coming for reality shows but we need discussion also on children working in TV serials and films. To my knowledge they are not covered by child labour laws nor by any special child protection laws. Children who work in TV serials films do have to work very hard, which impacts them. They need adequate rest, sleep, time and break for education. They entertain us but it should not impact their normal growth, and protection which they should be getting as their right from the state, us and life.

Will smoking ban work in India?

India has banned smoking in workplaces from October 2 onwards. The aim is to discourage smokers, to make them reduce or quit smoking. Those flouting the ban will face a fine of Rs 200. The law is impressive, but would it work?.

OCTOBER 2 onwards, India has banned smoking in workplaces, public places, hotels and restaurants, offices, courts, banks, schools, colleges, libraries, cinemas, auditorium, restaurants, shopping malls, parks, monuments, railway stations, airports, bus stops, buses, taxis.

The new Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, which was notified this month come into effect from October 2, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The only places where one can smoke will be smoking lounges at airports, restaurants with over 30 seats, smoking rooms and of course or your own home. The fine for violating the ban is Rs 200.

Though an appeal was filed before the Supreme Court, it upheld the government ban on smoking in public places from October 2. The government of India had earlier tried to control tobacco use through Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution Bill, 2003. Key provisions of the law include prohibition on direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products, prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors and prohibition of smoking in public places. But one can see many who smoke in public places. Also cigarette packets sold in India are required to carry pictorial warnings along with the text saying smoking is injurious to health and smoking causes cancer in both Hindi and English. But I still have not seen any pictorial warnings.

India is good in making laws, they look good when drafted and announced, but somehow implementation of these laws is a major challenge. It is not about one sector or area, it is across board.

India had banned children below 14 years of age from work, but go to any state, any city one can see children working in dhabas, restaurants, petrol pumps,brick kilns and as domestic labour etc. Hardly anyone gets punished! India has banned sex selection under Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PCPNDT) Act, but the reality is quite different.

Tobacco laws have been there in India, but still more than 250 million people in India use various tobacco products like gutka, cigarettes and bidis and millions of them die, many suffer with heart and lung diseases because of this habit. The data says one in two Indian men and one in seven women use tobacco in the country. Tobacco causes 40 per cent of all cancer disease in India.

So the fact is that law is good, but the issue is of implementation. I am not sure if we have the manpower to implement this law. Do we have necessary structures, people, mechanisms in place who can implement the laws or will it remain as yet another good policy level declaration, which is not implemented on ground.

Anil Gulati