Ajtak: Such misinformation and blunders!

Do you expect 'national' news channels especially the one like Aajtak that claim to be the Numero Uno in this country to be so careless about facts and make a mockery of all basics of journalism.

The leader of the most wanted dacoit gang in India Dayaram was injured in an encounter with police in Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh and I happened to see the special programme 'Aaj Tak Vishesh' that was focused on this gang.

In the 'exclusive' report it was again and again mentioned that Dayaram Gadaria had killed SAIKDON (HUNDREDS) of innocents in his years in Chambal. The fact is that the entire Gadaria gang has no less than 30 murders in its CV to boast of.

Of which, a majority including the 13 victims of Bhanwarpura massacre was at the behest of the second leader Rambabu. Even if the figure of 30 is attributed to Dayaram, the use of word 'HUNDREDS' suggests at least 200 or 300. So TEN TIMES the figure was blown up! How can they dare to air such wild figures? Frankly it is because they don't give a damn to accountability or facts.

It is no newspaper and so you are not bound to publish rejoinders (in newspaper offices, readers and officials of department concerned come with the cutting and demand explanation). Also, the channels don't have the beat system in the exact sense and thus guy in Gwalior may be just a low-paid stringer who has to look after politics, art, culture, crime, society and what not. Naturally he is too busy to specialise on any thing and picks up hearsay. Where in the world will we get such imbalanced coverage and so many bloomers except India!

NDTV did well to expose the corruption in government schools. The son of a scrap-dealer Vicky went from one school to other but despite having the required documents was turned away.

The correspondent Poonam Agarwal took the boy along to the school where she had a very intersting conversation with the Principal.

Principal: Rs 190 will be the school admission fee and rest, you can think about me.
NDTV: What do you mean?
Principal: Give me as much as you can.
NDTV: You tell me, how much do you want?
Principal: No, I won't say?
NDTV: I don't know about government schools.
Principal: I will take the admission test, but he will pass this time.
NDTV: Well, the student's father told me that one school asked him for money.
Principal: How much?
NDTV: Rs 2,000.
Principal: Ok, then give me that amount.
NDTV: Is admission confirmed then?
Principal: Yes, he will sit for the admission test for formality. I will be there. His admission is confirmed.

The story is available on the website of NDTV or could be accessed at the following link:
http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?id=90859&template=Education&callid=1&frmsrch=1&txtsrch=school+admission

At least the channel thought about the plight of poor families who are asked to shell out money for admission. While most of the channels do stories on 'Excitment among freshers in colleges', 'Ragging/Introduction' and 'Dilemma to choose courses or cut-off in schools and colleges', NDTV picked up a real issue that affects us all and needs to be highlighted.