‘Journalists Should Fight for Their due Rights’ - Kamali Basumatari

A Correspondent

TANGLA: “Journalists should fight for their due rights. Media as the fourth pillar of democracy has a great role to play in a democratic nation like India. The journalists highlight the problems of common people but the plight of journalists remains unaddressed,” said Paneri MLA Kamali Basumatari while addressing the working journalists at a special felicitation programme here at Presidency Junior College in Tangla on Sunday.

The four-time legislator further stated that the common people had a wrong notion that journalists were a privileged class but in ground reality, they face a lot of hurdles - from getting due wages to criticism by a section of people.

“I am always open to suggestions of the public and media. The positive criticism by media encourages me to work better. I have always fought for women and child rights and media has helped me highlight them,” she added.

Journalist Gunajit Das lamented the fact that the Majithia Wage Board suggestions regarding wages to journalists have been largely ignored by many media houses. The event, organized by the Udalguri district committee of Assam Press Correspondents Union (APCU) in collaboration with the Tangla Press Club, saw the felicitation of 18 journalists of Udalguri district who received accreditation cards by the State Information and Public Relations (IPR).

The event also awarded four journalists with Young Media Persons Award. They are Bapan Sarma, Diganta Kumar Sarma, Bhuban Thapoliya and Gunajit Das. The programme was attended by Udalguri AKRSU president Hemanta Bora Koch; senior journalists Imran Hussain, Naba Kumar Deka and other dignitaries.