National Journalists Pension Scheme : The Indian Journalists Union  urged upon the Government of India to introduce a National Working Journalists Pension Scheme at the all-India level as most of the journalists, except the elite, were ill-paid and an overworked lot. It pointed out that the working and economic condition of the journalists in semi-urban and rural areas is miserable and they were sustained by the labour of love.

The IJU National Executive Committee meeting held in Vijayawada on March 2-3, 2019 welcomed the decision of various State governments such as Assam, Tripura, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Bihar to provide and enhance the pension for retired journalists. However, as the amount varied in different States, it urged there should be a uniform pension scheme across the country.

The resolution pointed that as the journalists exercised the right of freedom of expression on behalf of the people and stood as sentinels of democracy, it was the responsibility of the government to sustain them with welfare schemes in the interest of independent journalism and democracy. It recalled that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee promised to introduce pension scheme for journalists across the country which was yet to be fulfilled. The IJU urged upon the Central government to bring all working journalists, irrespective of their income, into the purview of the Health Insurance Scheme recently introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

Homage to Soldiers

The IJU joined the nation in condemning the brutal killing of 44 soldiers in the Pulwama attack by the JeM. It also congratulated the Indian Air Force for conducting successful airstrikes at Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, and eliminating the terrorist camp. The resolution said, "The NEC joins the entire nation in paying homage to the 44 jawans who lost their lives in Pulwama attack and expresses solidarity with their families.” The NEC also expressed word of caution to the media in its coverage of the entire episode and urged that it should desist from war-mongering and rumours. The media, it reiterated, must play a responsible role while reporting sensitive issues.

Concern over attacks on Media

In a resolution, the NEC of IJU expressed its concern at the Meghalaya High Court's order against editor and publisher of Shillong Times invoking contempt of court laws for reporting a tussle between the court and the offices of Meghalaya government relating to determining salaries and perks for the judges of Meghalaya High Court. The Meghalaya High Court imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each to The Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim and its publisher Shoba Chaudhury and imprisonment for six months and closure of the newspaper if they fail to pay the fine within a week.

The High Court bench also asked the editor and publisher of the newspaper, one of whom is a Padma awardee, to "sit in the corner of the courtroom" till the court adjourned its proceedings for the day. IJU NEC opined that the issue of Contempt of Court has emerged as a new instrument in fettering free speech and media freedom.

Condemned the attitude of Warangal police

The IJU condemned the locking of Warangal Press Club by Telangana Police for disallowing a progressive writer to release a book in the club premises, on the plea of allowing outlawed Maoists organizations to use the premises of the club. It noted with concern the incident of attack on Suman Pandey, a journalist working for digital news portal "The Voices" by the BJP workers when he recorded a scuffle which ensued between BJP workers in a review meeting of the Party in Raipur on 2 February.

IJU Seeks Safety Law

The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) called upon the Union government to enact a law for the protection of journalists immediately as the demand has been long pending. The law was critical as the attacks and killings of journalists in the country were menacingly growing. The irony was that in all the cases, the culprits were going scot free, as a Press Council report revealed.

Demand for New Wage Board  

The IJU NEC demanded immediate constitution of a new Wage Board for the working journalists as the last wage board was constituted over a decade ago. The IJU also expressed deep anguish and anger over the non-implementation of the Majithia Wage Board even after the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality. It recalled that last wage board was constituted in May 2007, its recommendations submitted in 2010, the Union government accepting these in 2011 and the Supreme Court ruling in favour of employees and directing managements to implement it in totality in February 2014.

Noting the fact, the Supreme Court directions were not only for print media journalists under the Wage Board but also those on contracts, the NEC urged upon all contract journalists to join the ongoing fight for their rightful dues. At the same time, the NEC demanded that State governments, which had not set up the requisite tripartite committees, to do so without any further delay. The meeting welcomed the decision of the Delhi Government to enhance the penalty on managements for failing to implement the award and asked other State Governments to follow suit.

Authorisation to President/General Secretary

The NEC resolves to authorise President/Secretary General to file cases/appeals for implementation of Wage Board recommendations or cases related or incidental to such matters. It also authorises them to file cases in various higher courts or intervene in cases concerning freedom of press and or free speech and expression and in cases related or incidental to such matters.

Amend WJA and PCI Acts

The IJU NEC reiterated its demand for amendments to the Working Journalists Act and the Press Council of India Act by bringing the electronic and digital media under their ambit.  It discussed the improper functioning of the PCI and the CPAC. The meeting demanded adequate representation of journalists' unions in the CPAC and restoration of functioning of PCI as an independent media monitoring body without interference of the government. The meeting has expressed concern at the attempt to change the basic rules of the PCI by holding meetings of truncated PCI before the body was fully reconstituted.

Citizenship Amendment Bill

The NEC meeting discussed the issue of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and felt that intended amendment to the Citizenship Act was against the spirit of the Constitution, which upheld secularism and ensured no discrimination on the basis of religion. In a resolution the NEC endorsed the apprehension of the people of the North-east that if the amendment to the Act was passed and became a law the indigenous people of the region would become minority and lose rights on their own land. It demanded withdrawal of the bill.

Asian Federation of Journalists

IJU urged the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for constituting an Asian Federation of Journalists consisting of the IFJ affiliates of Asian continent. IJU Secretary General Sabina Inderjit who is also the Vice President of IFJ assured the NEC that she would press for formation of such a regional federation in line with European Federation of Journalists and other regions. The union recognized the Indo Bangladesh Journalists Forum recently formed at a meeting in Dhaka. The NEC IJU congratulated Geetartha Pathak, Vice President of IJU for being elected as the President and ATM Mamtazul Karim of Dhaka as the General Secretary of the Forum.           

Itanagar Attack condemned

The IJU strongly condemned the manhandling of media persons and vandalising of press vehicles by unruly protestors and security personnel during the recent unrest that broke out in the twin capital cities of Itanagar and Naharlagun over the PRC issue.

It sought from the state authority, to ensure safety and security of media persons, in Arunachal Pradesh.  Several media persons have been subjected to manhandling, heckling, and damage of media equipment and vehicles either by the unruly protesters or the security personnel while covering the recent violence that erupted in protest against proposal of grant of PRC to non-APSTs by the state government.

Many media persons were subjected to police harassment as well. It was reported that cameras and mobile phones of several media persons were snatched away and damaged by security personnel. They also deleted all the footages of violence that was captured during the incident by the journalists. The IJU also condoled the death of the three youths, who lost their lives, in the police firing, during the anti-PRC agitation.