‘The Shillong Times’ is the only major daily newspaper, which is published from Meghalaya. There are 51 employees, including journalists or non-journalists, who work for this newspaper. As per the status report on the implementation of the Majithia Award submitted before the Supreme Court of India by the Meghalaya’s Labour Commissioner, Smt. Merilyn Nellie Nampui, ‘The Shillong Times’ falls under category VI of the Majithia Report. However, this newspaper has also failed to comply with the implementation of the Majithia Award.
All other newspapers either do not employ any employee and brought out by the owners themselves. Some newspapers may be having some employees on the part time basis. The report of the Labour Commissioner also states that no newspaper has divulged any information about the revenue or the circulation. The Government has assured the Hon’ble Supreme Court that it would take action to place the newspapers in the relevant category and order them to implement the recommendations. Many other newspapers which have their circulation in Meghalaya have their headquarters either in Guwahati or in Kolkata and therefore they do not come in the jurisdiction of the State Government.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary General
IFWJ
