Three cheers to Journalists' Union of Assam. Under the leadership of President Geetartha Pathak and General Secretary Dhanjit Kumar Das along with its women members, led by Samin Sultana Ahmed and Shushmita Goswami, the union has set up the Gender Council, the first initiative by any State Union of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU). The GC was constituted at a meeting held at Bluemoon Guest House in Guwahati on April 1 with women members attending from across the State, some having come from as far as 500 km and one even leaving her twomonth baby behind. The members were indeed enthusiastic and shared their experiences and the challenges they overcame.
At the inaugural meeting, Sabina Inderjit, Vice President of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Indian Journalists Union spoke about her over two decadelong journey in the trade union, both at the national and international level. She dealt at length about IFJ's Gender Council, the UN International Women's Day and the UN Day against violence against Women. Importantly, she said that the JUA GC should encourage all other State affiliates to set up similar council's involving the women members of their union. The initiative, she said had to be taken by both the leadership and the members themselves. There must be a change in mindset, she said.
Sabina appealed to the media industry to encourage women to join the profession to bring gender parity in the field of journalism. At the same time, she asked the women journalists to join unions and fight for their rights from within. This would be in line with IFJUNESCO's gender parity initiative, among many others, for a global movement to engage more women in unions and leadership positions.
The members mapped out an initial plan of action to improve working conditions at the work place. They would demand the setting up of Internal Complaints Committee to deal with sexual harassment at work place, provision of maternity leave in conformity with the amended Act, providing crèches at work place, equity in career opportunity, and pay parity etc, at the media establishments. The Gender Council has decided to engage with the civil society organizations to empower women in the society as well as in the field of journalism.
The meeting which was presided over Samim, News Editor of Dainik Agradoot was also addressed by noted columnist Ananta Kalita, Karobi Saikia Karan, Deputy Secretary in the Labour and Employment Department and JUA President Geetartha Pathak. The Gender Council of JUA elected the following office bearers President: Samim Sultana Ahmed, General Secretary: Susmita Goswami and Assistant Secretaries: Monalisa Sharma, Nafisa Ahmed.
