 |
 |
IJU National Executive Committee Meeting
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, September 18-19, 2004
The
National Executive Committee meeting was held in Hyderabad on 18-19, September,
2004. It was presided over by Com. Suresh Akhouri, President, IJU. The venue
of the meeting was " Desoddharaka Bhavan " the office of the Andhra
Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
The Secretary-General welcomed the members of NEC and Presidents and General
Secretaries of the various State Unions. Com. D. Amar, President of the host
Union (APUWJ) thanked the IJU for giving an opportunity to host the NEC in
Hyderabad.
The President, in his opening remarks narrated the media situation in the
country and demanded that Government of India should immediately set up new
wage Board for journalists and non-journalist 0employees of the newspaper
industry and Third Media Commission. He expressed concern over the inordinately
delay in notifying the IX the Press Council of India and Central Press Accreditation
Committee by Government of India.
The President stressed that all unions working the newspaper industry should
come together for united action to achieve new wage board for journalists
and non-journalists in newspaper industry which is over due.
He informed the meeting that this time also we have succeeded in getting representation
to our Union in the IXth Press Council of India. Com. K. Sreenivas Reddy,
Secretary-General, Com. Geetarth Pathak (Assam) and Com. Devendra Chintan,
(New Delhi) got elected with cooperation of Press Association and Working
News Cameramen Association. It is also heartening to note that Com. S.N. Sinha,
President of WNCA was also elected to the PCI from WNCA.
The President also informed members that Com. Sabina Indrajit, member of NEC,
was elected to the Executive of IFJ for the second consecutive term with thumbing
majority in the month of June at Athens, Greece, where the IFJ congress was
held.
The Secretary-General in his speech, explained that in spite of unanimous
recommendation from Labour Standing Committee of Parliament, headed by P.K.
Vasudevan Nair, urgent need of constitution of new wage board for the newspaper
employees in the country, the Government of India is dilly-dallying the issue.
The Secretary-General read out a memorandum submitted to Union Information
and Broadcasting Minister. Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy at New Delhi by IJU delegation.
On 18th after noon members of the NEC interacted with the Chief Minister of
Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the State Secretariat. He supported
the demand of IJU for setting up a new wage board.
Before adjourning the morning session, the NEC adopted two resolutions one
on constitution of media commission and another on notification for reconstitution
of IXth Press Council of India.
The resolution adopted on Media Commission:
RESOLUTIONS
Media
Commission
The
National Executive of IJU meeting at Hyderabad on September 18th & 19th,
2004 notes that media scenario in the country has undergone enormous changes
since the first and second Press commissions. After the second press commission
submitted its report in 1982, information technology changed the face of the
media in the world. In the last two decades since second press commission
submitted its report, electronic and Internet media came on the scene in our
country changing the way the news is disseminated and brought many problems
in their wake.
Further, there is a strong feeling in the democratic polity that the newspapers
are drifting away from their social responsibility. They are being more and
commercialized. The commercial interests are taking precedence over the editorial
content in the newspapers. The interference of business managers in the domain
of news desk is on the increase. With the contract system of employment for
journalists, the threat to freedom of press is becoming more pronounced. The
tribe of news managers is sprouting up on the media scene.
The recommendations of the first and second press commissions over de-linking
of ownership of newspapers from the big business and on the issue of cross
media ownership were not implemented. The big newspapers with deep pockets
are squeezing out the medium and small newspapers from the market by price
wars.
In these circumstances, the Indian Journalists Union strongly feels that a
new media commission should be appointed to go into whole gamut of issues
concerning the media, electronic, Internet and print. It should also go into
the editorial freedom from the prying managements and the freedom of the press
in general.
The National Executive of the IJU strongly urges upon the Government of India
to immediately constitute third Media Commission to define the contours of
free press and the mode of the newspaper ownership.
The
resolution on IXth Press Council of India
The
National Executive of Indian Journalists Union meeting at Hyderabad on September
18th & 19th, 2004 expresses its deep concern at the inordinate delay in
issuing the notification reconstituting the IX Press Council of India. The
term of the out going VIII council ended in May 2004 and the process of selection
of the members was completed in the 2nd week of July last. The Press Council
Of India sent the list of the members to the Government of India. The Government
of India is yet to notify reconstitution of the new Press Council of India
even though, more than two months elapsed since the whole process was over
and more than four months since the term of the last council came to an end.
The Government is unnecessarily delaying the issuing of the notification.
The PCI is the only statutory body for safeguarding the independence of the
press and upholding the professional ethics and oversees the media issues.
The inordinate delay in reconstituting the PCI is not fair on the part of
the government. The NEC of IJU urges upon the Central Government to immediately
notify the next Press Council of India without any further delay.
In the evening session leaders of various State Unions gave reports on their
activities. Geetartha Pthak (Assam) informed the members about the killing
spree of extremists in Assam. So far 16 journalists have been killed and in
North Eastern States. He reviewed the situation of working journalists of
newspaper employees in the state. He said the situation was in a very bad
shape as the managements were not giving letters of appointments or paying
due wages. Governments were not taking any action against the erring managements.
Ambati Anjaneyulu, General Secretary, APUWJ narrated how the APUWJ fought
for payment of wages to the employees of Andhra Prabha one of the oldest,
reputed dailies in the state after changing the management. He said that at
the behest of APUWJ, Group Mediclaim Insurance Policy was launched on August
15, 2004 by the Chief Minister for Working Journalists in the State. Under
the scheme medical expenses upto one lakh rupees would be met by Insurance
Company for four members of family of journalist including the journalist.
About 2,500 journalists were covered under this scheme.
Arun Kumar (Bihar) said in Bihar major newspapers were giving appointments
under contract system instead regular appointments. One journalist was killed
and another serious inujred in separate attacks by mafia.
Com. Dinesh Chandra (Delhi) stressed the urgent need of programme of action
for the appointment of new wage board while cautioning against joint actions
with NUJ.
Com. Ravindra Doss (Tamilnadu) told the meeting that the State Government
headed by Jayalalitha was most unhelpful towards the journalists. He said
she stopped payment pension to journalists in the state, which was introduced
by her predecessor. The Tamilnadu Union of Journalists is to floating trust
to pay pension to the journalists in distress. He explained the details of
welfare activities undertaken by the state Union.
Com. Prasant Patnaik (Orissa) said the Government of Orissa while appointing
member for the Accreditation Committee showed discrimination against OUWJ.
Com. Sunil Das (West Bengal) explained the plight of journalists working in
the Basumati daily, which ceased publication and other newspapers.
Com. Mazhar Azad (U.P.) explained the situation in Uttar Pradesh visa- vis
journalists.
Com. Vinod Kohili (Chandigarah) suggested that our State Unions should exchange
delegations of the unions members to understand the situation and cultural
heritages.
On 19th morning session discussions took place on action programme for constitution
of new wage board and adoption of a resolution. Com. President informed the
member, that
there is meeting of union's representative at New Delhi on 30the Sept and
in this connection he had a talk with K. L. Kapur of AINEF, com. M. S. Yadav
of PTI Federation and com. S.N. Sinha.
Resolution
on Wage Board:
The
National Executive of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) meeting at Hyderabad
on 18th and 19th 2004 strongly demands that Government of India should immediately
set up new wage Board for journalists and non-journalist employees of the
newspaper industry. The last wage board, headed by Justice Manisana Singh
was constituted in September, 1994 after the journalists under the leadership
of Indian Journalists launched a massive agitation. As a matter of fact, the
then Government which was not heeding the long pending demands of the journalists
for wage board was forced to announce the setting up of the wage board, after
the journalists boycotted the budget speech of the then Finance Minister and
the present Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh and the newspaper struck work
on that day forcing the populace of the National Capital Delhi go without
their daily newspaper with budget news the next day.
Rattled over the strike action of the journalists and non-journalist employees
of the newspaper industry, the then Prime Minister Mr. P.V.Narasimha Rao was
forced to announce the setting up of the new wage board. Then, the Government
took its own time to appoint Chairman and members of the Wage board. After
taking over four years, the wage board submitted its report. They were implemented
with effect from January, 1998. The recommendations of the wage board were
far below the expectations of the journalists. Even those recommendations
were not implemented by most of the newspapers in the country.
It is already about six years since the Manisana Wage Board recommendations
came into force. In the meantime the real wages of the journalists were getting
fast eroded. There is a lot of discontentment among the journalists on this
score. It is high time new wage board is constituted without any further loss
of time. In recent past the Union Labour Minister Mr. Sis Ram Ola made public
statements that they would consider the demand of the journalists and other
newspaper employees for new wage board. The Standing Committee of Parliament
on Labour also strongly recommended formation of a new Wage Board for the
journalists and newspaper employees.
The National Executive of the Indian Journalists urges upon the Government
of India to immediately announce the setting up of the wage board for journalists
and other newspaper employees before they come on to the streets give vent
to their anger frustration.
The NEC of IJU calls upon all the national level organizations of the journalists
and other newspaper employees come on a common platform for united actions
to achieve new wage board. A confederation of all the journalists and newspaper
employees should be formed for the purpose. The NEC authorizes the President
and Secretary General to take steps to bring unity among the national unions
of newspaper and news agency employees and to hold dialogue with them to wage
a united struggle to achieve better living and working conditions to the employees
of the newspaper industry.
India
Project on Women
Later
Com. Secretary-General explained the India project on Women Journalists. Com.
Sabina submitted a note explaining sailant features by the project.
It is a project called " Europe and India: Building Paths to Equality
in journalism ".
1. Project objective: is of increasing dialogue between key journalists
groups in Europe and India and establishing viable and lasting networks among
journalists in India through its series of initiatives to improve the quality
of journalism and raise the status of women in journalism in India.
2. The IFJ is the applicant, will oversee the project and be responsible
for it. The Partners are: India: IJU lead partner. (It will provide
the facilities, structure and local expertise for implementation of the project.
The national structure will also enable the project to work throughout India
and not be restricted to main cities.
3. Europe: Deutscher Jornalism Verband- DJV (Germany) & National
Union of Journalists, NUJ (UK & Ireland). They will provide expertise
from their gender equality programmes and host the exchange visits and organize
one-day seminars for visiting Indian journalists.
4. The project is funded by the European Union, however 20 per cent
of the contribution is to come from applicant (which includes the partners).
The EU will provide 497986 Euro, the 20 % is applicant's contribution:
124498 Euro.
5. It is a two-year project and will be completed by June 2006.
6. The target group: are membership of journalists' unions in India
and women working in journalism throughout India in all sectors. It is expected
that more than 1000 journalists and union leaders will directly benefit from
participation in activities of the project with published material and information
services reaching the membership of Indian journalists unions. The target
group is not women alone, but includes representatives of union leaderships
and wider membership of the journalists unions with the aim of creating a
broadly- based body of support of the project objectives
The activities to be undertaken in the project shall be the following in various
stages:
7. Survey on Women in Journalism in India. It will deal with: 1. Situation
of Indian women journalists: (a) covering training, access to the profession,
discrimination, pay, sexual harassment, access to responsible positions, membership
to the Unions, employment etc (b) Best practice examples on equality provisions
achieved in collective bargaining by IFJ affiliates in Europe and India and
how these might be applied effectively in both regions. 2. Launch of survey
in all regions of India and directed in all sectors of information and communication:
radio, television, print, news agencies, on-line information services and
freelance agencies. The questionnaire will be translated into 7 languages
and distributed throughout India. A survey report (300 copies) has
to be prepared. All this will be organized by the IJU. Also posters and
leaflets have to be prepared and distributed all over.
8. Analysis and assessment of survey results and definition of practical follow-up
to be defined through a National Conference to assess results, 40 participants.
To be organized by the IJU.
9. EU-India Media Women's Network: establishment of an Indian and European
women journalists network to share, compare and learn from each others experience
and look at the European policies on issues on women and journalism. Women
journalists delegations selected by IFJ affiliates in India will visit IFJ
affiliates in Europe and other journalists institutions and media organizations.
There will be 4 seven-day missions (two every year) of 10 women
journalists to Europe. Each visit will involve: 2-day visit to NUJ, London,
2 day visit to DVJ, Bonn ort Berlin, 1-day visit to IFJ Secretariat, Brussels,
1-day visit to EJC, Maastricht and 1-day visit to European Commission, Brussels.
To be organized by the EU-IJU.
10. Two regional meetings will be held on training and union organizing
in India with representatives from media, civil society, NGOs and policy makers,
organized by the IJU.
A campaign will be organized following the survey results. There will be gender
equity workshops to train women journalists and local union leadership
on developing policies and actions that promote equality. To be undertaken
by the IJU
A newsletter (in all four) and a website will be organized jointly
by the EU- IJU.
A handbook will finally be developed from results of survey and meetings
held in the first year.
After the discussion at length on implementation of project the N. E.C. Resolved:
Com. Sabina Indrajit (New Delhi) appointed as India Project Coordinator and
the project office should be located at Hyderabad in APUWJ office and authorized
Secretary-General to appoint project Asst. and accountant for the project
office in Andhra Pradesh.
The NEC also constituted a five member committee with Comrades, Suresh Akhouri,
K. Sreeenivas Reddy, S.N. Sinha, Madan Singh and Geetarth Pathak, President,
Secretary-General, Treasurer, Secretaries of IJU respectively to oversee the
implementation and consultation.
Earlier Secretary-General also explained in detail the discussions held by
IJU leadership with Aiden White, General Secretary, IFJ on his Delhi visit
in August, 2004. The NEC endorsed the activites initiated and taken by the
President and Secretary-General on the project and authorized them to go ahead
with the project implementation.
On the night of 19th September, the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists
hosted a dinner in honor of the National Council Members and Special invitees
at the Press Club of Hyderabad. Several senior journalists and local leaders
of the APUWJ also attended the dinner and had a fruitful interaction with
the visiting journalists.
The President and Secretary-General thanked the leaders of the Andhra Pradesh
Union of Working Journalists for hosting the conference and making excellent
arrangements for the hospitality of the members of the National Executive.
The General Secretary of the APUWJ, Ambati Anjaneyulu proposed a vote of thanks.
October 03, 2004