APUWJ discusses issues of journalists

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The members of the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) held a general meeting under the chairmanship of APUWJ president Amar Sangno at the Arunachal Press Club, Itanagar on Saturday.

The meeting was held following APUWJ President Amar Sangno and General Secretary Ranju Dodum's participation in the recently concluded meeting of the National Executive Committee, Indian Union of Journalists (IJU), at New Delhi, to discuss some of the resolutions made by the IJU. During the meeting, points like, participation of the State's press fraternity in the IJU's proposed nationwide protest rally on September 1, by organizing a solidarity march in Itanagar. Introduction of pension scheme for working journalists, adoption of a formal appointment system by the media houses for their employees and the increasing number of unregulated electronic media channels and working journalists were discussed.

Other miscellaneous issues were also taken up during the meeting, which included a discussion on the wage board, and an anticipated show cause notice to The Arunachal Times newspaper, by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU). The IJUNEC meeting, which was held on August 18 and 19, has proposed a nationwide rally to register its protest against curtailment of the freedom of the press by the Central and some State governments.

In this regard, the house present today resolved to stage a solidarity march on September 1 from Akashdeep to IG Park tennis court.

Given that states like Assam, Tripura, Haryana, and several other states have already introduced pension schemes for the working journalists, the IJU NEC has appealed to the State governments who are yet to introduce and implement a pension scheme for the working journalists to introduce and implement the same. In this regard, the house present resolved to constitute a three-member committee for preparing a proposal and pursuing the matter. After final discussion, it will be forwarded to the State government for implementation. The IJU felt that media houses, both print and electronic, in the state should streamline their recruitment process and issue appointment letters with proper breakdown of salary structures and engagement criteria.