The Government of India’s main motive behind coming up with television programmes was to educate the audience at large. However, with privatization coming into the picture, TV got commercial and saas bahu dramas started airing across the GECs. This is when the educational and awareness programmes were put on the back burner. But there are a few makers who do make shows based on social messages and real-life occurrences and we think that they need to be motivated. Therefore, the Twelfth Indian Telly Awards has nominated a few shows under the category, Programme with a Social Message’. Going alphabetically, Colors’ landmark show Balika Vadhu -Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte (Sphere Origins) is first on our list. The show deals with the issue of child marriage in an age where everybody is focusing on saas bahu sagas. It turned out to be a trendsetter as a lot of rural-based shows came into the picture soon after this serial received a good response. At the moment, we definitely have a lot of crime based shows on Indian television but it was Sony Entertainment Televisions’ Crime Patrol Dastak (Optimystix) that started this trend. The series brings across the crimes that have been taking place in our country. This helps the common man to be a bit more aware of the crimes happening in their own surrounding and be cautious about it. Next on our list is Star Plus’ Diya Aur Baati Hum (Shashi Sumeet Mittal Productions Pvt. Ltd) which is a blend of entertainment plus awareness on social issues. The show has been dealing with issues like education of girl child, honour killings, etc. What follows is Channel V’s Gumrah Season – 1 (Lost Boy productions), a show on crimes committed by the youth. The show helped create awareness amongst the youngsters. No matter how much you praise Aamir Khan Productions’ Satyamev Jayate on Star Plus, it will never be enough. The show was one of its kinds on Indian television and we don’t think anybody in our country has remained aloof of its impact. And at the end of it all, Life OK’s Savdhaan India @ 11 - India Fights Back is yet another show with real life crime-based stories. Hit the like button if you like any of the above shows and go on to vote for on http://tellyawards.indiantelevision.com/y2k13/poll/login.php