550 cases of indecent portrayal of women in ads in 3 years: Govt

There are 550 casesof indecent representation of women in advertisements in the past three years, the government has said. 

“As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, which is available up to 2014, a total of 141, 362 and 47 cases were reported in the country under Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, in the year 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively,” Union Minister of Women and Child Development  Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha.

A total of 550 cases under the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, were reported in three years (2012-14). “The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, has provisions prohibiting indecent representation of women through advertisements, publications, pamphlets, etc. Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 3 and Section 4 of the Act shall be punishable with imprisonment and fine,” added Gandhi.

She added, “The Government of India regularly conducts awareness generation programmes and publicity campaigns on various laws relating to women, including the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, through workshops, fairs, cultural programmes, seminars, training programmes etc. Further, advertisements are regularly brought out in print and electronic media to create awareness on laws relating to the rights of women.”