West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Friday that she does watch television news channels as it “leads to mental tension and mental pollution”.
Ms. Banerjee, who has been critical against a section of media accusing them of spreading canards against the State government, said that instead of news channels, she watched entertainment channels that aired “social stories.”
Inaugurating the West Bengal Telly Samman awards, the Chief Minister announced that her government would initiate a medical insurance scheme for television artists and technicians.
Pointing out that there were those who worked in the television medium and do not have the resources to afford proper medical treatment, she said adding that through the “mediclaim” scheme launched by her government, they would get free treatment.
Last year, the State government set up medical insurance schemes for artists and technicians of the Bengali film industry, she pointed out.
“We do not have a good television studio in the city, though work for having a proper film technician studio has started and will end by February. For a television studio we have set aside a six-acre plot of land at Baruipur in South 24-Parganas district,” she said.
There was a lot of talent in the television industry and it was very difficult to determine whom to honour.
The television awards started by the government would be presented every year, she added.
