Date:10/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/10/stories/2005101011260300.htm

New Delhi

`India would be poorer without a free Press'

Staff Reporter

Outlook group of publications celebrates 10 years of "speaking out"

NEW DELHI: Stating that India would be much poorer without a free Press that has helped preserve the democratic way of life, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said a constant questioning of what the Establishment says and does was natural and imperative. "It keeps the Government on its toes,'' she said.

Speaking at a function here to mark the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Outlook group of publications after handing over awards to six Indians who have made a difference by "speaking out", Ms. Gandhi remarked: "But we see needless sensationalism and the creeping in of tabloid journalism. Why should rumour be reported as news and gossip as a fact? India is very fortunate to have a free and vibrant Press. Many other countries in this region cannot claim the same."

"The right to be free comes with responsibility that comes with freedom to highlight the real life heroes apart from the icons on public stage," she added. "It is not true that readers have ignoble tastes that the media is bound to cater to.''

Acknowledging the role of civil society in the past 17 months of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, Ms. Gandhi said that their participation has ensured the passing of the Right to Information Bill as well as the Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Lauding the Outlook Group for focusing on ordinary men and women who spend their lives away from the limelight to bring about change, Ms. Gandhi said it was not surprising that out of the six awardees five were women. "There has been a revolution in the country in the past two decades. The reservation of women in panchayats have resulted in one million elected members. People are quite sceptical about the panchayat. They feel that they don't speak out for themselves. But I have found that it is not so.''

Ms. Gandhi also pointed out the role of self-help groups in the country which has become a movement, she stated. "The Government alone can't be the agent of change and private initiative and community participation is needed if change is to be widespread.''

Pointing out that there are laws in the country but the enforcement is weak, Ms Gandhi cited the example of the Child Marriage Act and the law against sex selection.

Ms. Gandhi earlier in the evening handed out awards to E. Siddamma for speaking out against bonded labour, Mayilamma for launching perhaps the longest satyagraha in post-Independence times for water against a soft drinks major, Naseema Hurzuk for championing the cause of the disabled, nine-year-old Shrestha Gaur for skiing, and Shamsad Khan for fighting for child rights. Tiliya Devi from Bihar, who has fought for the rights of the downtrodden in her village, was also awarded.