HYDERABAD: The Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments are not ensuring implementation of the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for working journalists despite appeals from the Union labour ministry, Union minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattatreya has said.
“Though journalists play a key role in society, their welfare is often overlooked. States have the responsibility of ensuring that the Majithia Wage Board recommendations for journalists are implemented. Though I have written to both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, they have not come forward to discuss the matter. I will soon call a meeting with all state governments to discuss implementation of Majithia Wage Board recommendations,” he said at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Hyderabad Press Club held at Ravindra Bharathi here on Sunday.
“The Union government is working on a tripartite mechanism _ journalist unions, media houses and state governments _ on the welfare of journalists. I will also strive to ensure that journalists own a home if they are members of Provident Fund. If Hyderabad Press Club members set up a corpus fund for journalists’ welfare, I promise contribution and support from my ministry,” he assured.
Dattatreya stressed the need to amend labour laws and bring the electronic media employees under the gambit of labour laws.
Governor ESL Narasimhan called upon the media not to sensationalise news but focus on development journalism. He also came up with the suggestion that media should be brought under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, at least in some instances like reporting on sensitive and national security issues.
IT minister KT Rama Rao said, “The Telangana government has taken up the exercise of issuing health cards to journalists and has also allotted Rs 10 crore for journalists’ welfare. One percent of the double bedrooms to be built by the government will be allotted to journalists. An announcement on construction of a Journalists Bhavan in Hyderabad will be made soon.”
Information and public relations commissioner Navin Mittal, Press Academy chairman Allam Narayana, Hyderabad Press Club president Ravikanth Reddy, secretary Rajamouli Chary, treasurer PV Srinivas and others were present at the celebrations which were attended by club members and their family members.
साभार- द न्यू इंडियन एक्सप्रेस
