Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured the members of Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) to look into the demand for press reforms in order to promote a free-thinking society.
Khandu gave this assurance when an APUWJ team led by its president Amar Sangno called on him at his office here on Monday and demanded enactment of Working Journalists Protection (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 Arunachal Pradesh often face daunting situations from various quarters. APUWJ strongly feels that the enactment of WJP Act would ensure the safety of all scribes," Sangno said during the meeting.
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.
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"It is only fair, under such circumstances, that journalists who have served the public should be rewarded after long years of service," the APUWJ president said.
Besides, the union also demanded exemption of journalists from toll and parking taxes on the ground that journalists often have to park their vehicles 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 houses were the other demands placed by the union.
"More than 10 years on since the formation of the Majithia Wage Board, and the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the recommendations made by the Board, majority of journalists under the Wage Board are yet to receive benefits," Sango said.
Khandu assured them to look into the demands placed by the union said the issue of implementation of Majithia Wage Board may take some time.
The APUWJ also expressed gratitude to the state government for enhancing Journalists' Welfare Fund cum corpus fund from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.
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