MUMBAI: Responding to the "constant carping" about the problems facing the media and entertainment industry, IT telecom and disinvestment minister Arun Shourie suggested they look within for answers.

The industry knows better what is best for itself. So drafting of legislation should not be left to the whims of bureaucrats or the government, but should be managed by industry stalwarts, Shourie said while delivering the valedictory speech at the conclusion of FRAMES 2003 today.

"We should learn to grab opportunites in the service and knowledge industry," Shourie said. "The State is the biggest obstacle to growth in the Industry," Shourie said while making a strong case for self regulation as far as content was concerned. Let market mechanisms and consumers decide what content is good and what is bad for them.

On piracy, he said look at the larger picture and understand the reasons why it is so rampant. There are socio-economic dynamics that are at play here.

Shourie told the audience to keep in mind the extremely slow judicial system in India and therefore they should try and arrive at solutions like working closely with police officers, retired judges, and bureaucrats.

In conclusion he said, "Don't just be great professionals. Take some time out for working towards the betterment of the industry as a whole."

Others who spoke were Narendra Sharma, CMD MTNL, actor Kamal Haasan, Sukhi Turner, mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand, Bobby Bedi FRAMES convenor and Yash Chopra.