Central Government would do all possible to secure an effective legislation for the safety, security and protection of journalists

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, in an hour long meeting with the representatives of the ‘Indian Federation of Working Journalists’ (IFWJ), assured that the Central Government would do all possible to secure an effective legislation for the safety, security and protection of journalists. He agreed to the suggestions of the IFWJ that a ‘Risk Insurance Scheme’ should be introduced particularly for such journalists who work in hazardous conditions and difficult areas. The IFWJ delegation comprised its two Vice Presidents namely; Hemant Tiwari and Umesh Kumar, Secretary General- Parmanand Pandey and Treasurer- Rinku Yadav.

The Information & Broadcasting Minister told the delegation that he would sp/eak to the Chief Ministers for providing the adequate security to the journalists as the law and order was the state subject. IFWJ has demanded that the family of those journalists, who are unfortunately killed or badly injured by the anti-social elements should get adequate compensation, which should not be less than Rs. One crore, and a member of the family of such journalists should be given an appropriate job befitting to the qualification.

The IFWJ also demanded for the review of the proposed advertisement policy for small and medium newspapers by the Central Government. It has called upon the government to compel the big newspapers to implement the Majithia Wage Board recommendations failing which their advertisements should stopped. While the IFWJ welcomes the initiative of the Central Government for implementation of labour laws by the small and medium newspapers but it certainly opposes the condition of compulsory s/ubscription of any one of the three news agencies- PTI, UNI or Hindustan Samachar- by the small and medium newspapers to get the government advertisements.

The IFWJ said in its memorandum that linking of the owning of the printing press with the release of advertisements was a harsh and unacceptable condition. It pointed out that if those conditions were imposed on small and medium newspapers they would have to wound-up their publications, which would amount to curtailing the freedom of the press. The Information and Bro/*adcasting Minister Shri Rathore told the IFWJ delegation, in no uncertain terms, that before the execution of the proposed advertisement policy and also for deciding the legislation for the protection of journalists, he would elaborately discuss with the organisation.

Rinku Yadav

Treasurer (IFWJ)

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