‘NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE FREEDOM OF PRESS”: PUNJAB MINISTER BALBIR SINGH
(MOREPIC1)Face2News/Chandigarh
Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists today held its 24th Annual Meet at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26 here. Health Minister of Punjab, Dr. Balbir Singh was the chief guest on the occasion.
The minister while speaking on this occasion, lauded the role of media in a democracy like India and said that as a fourth pillar it is doing a great job. He also talked about the changing media scenario especially with the advent of electronic and social media. He said that journalists too have an important role to play to make people aware about the various welfare schemes. He also said that journalists are facing lots of hardships in discharging their duties and things are getting bad to worse as for as their safety and freedom is concerned. He said that the government of Punjab led by CM Bhagwant is committed to the freedom of press and will do everything possible to safeguard it.
(SUBHEAD)While speaking on this occasion, IJU and CPUJ President Vinod Kohli said that CPUJ came into existence 40 years ago as Chandigarh Punjab Patrakar Parishad. In the last 40 years it has grown into the region's largest body of working journalists and currently has more than 700 members. We forcefully presented the case of journalists before the Majithia Wage Board and that led to the biggest victory for journalists in the history of the newspaper industry, Vinod Kohli further said. During his address Vinod Kohli said that it was a matter of pride that 70 percent of demands put forward by the union were accepted by the wage board and that it had benefited more than 16 lakh employees.
Vinod Kohli also spoke about the challenges faced by journalists in the fast changing world. He said that CPUJ is committed to the welfare of journalists and would work to safeguard fourth estate from various kinds of threats. He also raise issues like health insurance for journalists and urged the chief guest to look into this matter and bring some kind of scheme for their welfare.
Former IJU President Suresh Akhori said on this occasion that getting wage board recommendation is a big achievement but journalists have lost their workman status and it is a matter of great concern.
