An organisation of women journalists has urged the Information and Broadcasting ministry to ensure that the existing laws pertaining to the working conditions of journalists are complied with by media organisations without exception.
In a representation addressed to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) has said that a significant proportion of the work force in the media comprises of women journalists and a safe, secure and financially stable working environment is a pre-requisite for the full realisation of their productive capacities.
In this context, we request the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's intervention specifically to ensure that media houses set up internal committees as mandated under the recently legislated Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the representation signed by IWPC President T K Rajalakshmi and General Secretary Ravinder Bawa said.
It also sought a mechanism to regularly monitor compliance of all laws including labour laws within media organisations and to ensure strict implementation of the Wage Board for Working journalists.
The IWPC also sought constitution of a full fledged statutory Media Commission under an Act of Parliament comprising of journalists and other sections of society where all broad and specific policy matters relating to the media ranging from fair working conditions, and dealing with corrupt practices like 'paid news' can be framed.
In another statement issued here, IWPC referred to a matter related to the Mumbai editor of an Urdu publication and said while state government is obliged to proceed on the basis the laws of the land, it should ensure in equal measure that the concerned editor, her work and family as well as others associated with the publication are protected under the same laws and not unduly victimised and deprived of their basic rights.
