He added that the campaign against those claiming to heal people with medicines not recognised by the government will be stepped up. While the Cenre recognises only four branches of medicine-allopathy, ayurveda, unani and homoeopathy-the state has given its nod to acupuncture, naturopathy and yoga.
“We are evaluating the scenario every day and will definitely step up our campaign against illegal forms of treatment,” said C.R. Maiti, the director of medical education. Hydrotherapy, magnetotherapy and reiki are some forms of treatment that are not recognised by the state government.
THE TELEGRAPH
TUESDAY 5 April 2005
METRO
THE CITY DIARY
Cable channels bar astrology
Six major local cable channels joined hands on Monday to announce that they would stop airing astrology, Feng Shui and other “unscientific” programmes.
“We did not want to air these programmes but were forced to as they generate significant revenue,” admitted Abhijit Dasgupta, of the West Bengal Association for Better television Broadcast, an umbrella organisation of Bangla Ekhon, ATN, Taaza TV, Spandan, Sristi and Sonar Bangla.
Chief miniser Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had recently expressed concern over the astrology programmes aired on local cable channels. He also announced that the law department would examine wheher the channels could be prosecuted.
According to the forum, multi-system operators (MSOs) are to be blamed, as they charge exorbitant rates-between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 4 lakh-as “carriage fee” for placing the channels on their networks.
“It is difficult for us to pay so much and we have written to the chief miniser for intervention. We are plan- ning to stop all such programmes Poila Boisakh onwards,” Dasgupta said.
The forum is also trying to negotiate with MSOs for uniform place ment rates for all cable channels.
