Pema Khandu assures Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) over press reforms

ITANAGAR: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured the members of Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) that his government would look into the demand of press reforms, to promote a free-thinking society.

The assurance from Khandu came on Monday when APUWJ team led by its president Amar Sangno called on the former at his office here on Monday and demanded enactment of Working Journalists Protection Act (WJP Act).

Presently, Maharashtra is the only State in India where an Act to protect the rights of working journalists has been passed. Journalists in ArunachalPradesh often face similar situations from various community and organizations. Hence, APUWJ strongly feels that the enactment of WJP Act would ensure the safety of all scribes, Sango said.

The union also demanded introduction of pension scheme for working journalists. The Chief Minister was apprised that till date, the state governments of Assam, Tripura, and Haryana have implemented a pension scheme for journalists who have retired from their profession.

It is only fair, under such circumstances, that journalists who have served the public should be rewarded after long years of service, APUWJ president opined.

Besides, the union demanded exemption from toll and parking taxes on the ground that journalists often have to park their vehicles many a times every day for performing their duties and have to pay heavy parking fees every day.

Implementation of Majithia Wage Board and accommodation for accredited journalists at government guest house were the other demands. Sangno said, "More than ten years since the formation of the Majithia Wage Board, and the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the recommendations made by the Board, majority of journalists under the Wage Board are yet to receive benefits." "While an often repeated promise, accommodation for accredited journalists at government guest houses has never materialized," he added.

Lending a patient hearing to the APUWJ members, Khandu who assured to look into the demands placed by the union, however, expressed that demand for implementation of Majithia Wage Board may take some time, considering its technical know-how.

Sangno also drew the attention of state government towards the increasing curbs on the freedom of press by covert and overt measures by the central and some of the state governments.

Earlier, on September 1 last, the journalists under the aegis of APUWJ took out a massive protest rally from Aakshdeep to the Arunachal Press Club in the state capital demanding protection of rights of the media.

On the same day, thousands of journalists all over the country also hold demonstrations and dharna, to support the call of Indian Journalists Union (IJU) against atrocities meted down on journalists and media houses, killing of journalists and intolerance of central and state governments.

Meanwhile, the union, on behalf of entire working journalists of the state, expressed gratitude to the Pema-led BJP government for enhancement of journalists' welfare fund (JWF) cum corpus fund from one crore to two crore.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna mein and Arunachal Electronic Media Association (AEMA) President Mukul Pathak and APUWJ member Taya Bagang were also present.