Vipin Gaur the General Secretary of Newspapers Association of India on Saturday met the Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot and congratulated him on being appointed as the Governor of the state and appealed to fulfill genuine demands of journalists working in the state.
Karnataka governor Thawar Chand Gehlot heard them patiently and fully assured that every effort will be made by the government for the interest of journalists in the state of Karnataka at the earliest. He was kind enough to welcome all the members of the organization who met him. He said that the awareness work done by the journalists in the country is commendable, Journalists played a wonderful role in the corona epidemic challenging times for the society and the government, regardless of the risks confronted by them while performing their duties.
The demands included implementation of the State pension scheme by the state government for the working journalists in the state of Karnataka in addition to accidental safety cover policy so that in case of any accident of a journalist, his family can be helped financially as well as adequate treatment in any private hospital. They demanded Journalists Protection Act should be made in the state of Karnataka so that the incidents of atrocities on journalists can also be stopped. In addition they further demanded that an Advertisement policy should also be devised for small and medium newspapers so that all small and medium newspapers get advertisements in order to acknowledge government’s support in running their newspapers. The memorandum submitted to the governor included the following demands for the welfare of the state journalists :
- Pension scheme should be implemented by the state government for the working journalists in the state of Karnataka.
- Accidental protection cover policy should be given for journalists in the state.
- A journalist protection law should be made in the state, so that atrocities against journalists can be stopped.
- Advertisement policy should be made for small and medium newspapers in Karnataka state so that all small and medium newspapers get advertisements, and they get help from the government in running their newspaper.
- Transport passes should be given to working journalists in the state of Karnataka so that the journalist can get free facility to move from one place to another for coverage of any news in Karnataka.
- Government recognition should also be given to the web portal in the state of Karnataka so that the reporters working in the portal get a chance to work as a journalist recognized by the state government.
- A media center should be built in Bengaluru and other districts by the government where journalists can get computer printout internet facility so that they do not face any problem to exchange news.
