Indiantelevision.com Team

(6 March 2008 9:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: The Interministerial Committee (IMC) probing violations of the Programme and Advertising Codes by television channels, has asked all channels to withdraw an advertisement on a girl child.

The ad by a private insurance company was indirectly saying that the birth of a girl child is an extra burden on the parents.

Although Information and Broadcast (I&B) ministry sources refused to name the advertiser, it is learnt that ING Vysya Life Insurance was the private assurance company which was airing the ad.

The advertisement urged parents of a new-born girl child to immediately take an insurance policy that would secure her education and marriage as she grows older.

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation(IBF) and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) were also asked by the ministry to advise all channels to take the advertisement off the air pending inquiry.