I & B ministry to promote transparency in newspaper body RNI

In a bid to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of registrar of newspaper of India (RNI), the information and broadcasting ministry has decided to make the process online.Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu chaired the meeting of consultative committee of I&B ministry on Friday to discuss on the subject ‘working of the RNI. He said that RNI has been constantly re-engineering itself to make procedures and process simpler and the focus of the ministry is to make the processes online thereby promoting transparency and accountability. 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.

The minister 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 and guidelines had undergone some changes. Officials said that 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. Officials said that members of the committee gave suggestions regarding steps to be taken for modernization 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 RNI. 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.