Govt assures NPA to review policies for journalists

EMN Dimapur, October 29 Parliamentary Secretary for IPR, Khekaho Assumi has assured the Nagaland Press Association (NPA) that necessary amendments would be done in the draft proposals of the proposed Journalist Welfare Fund policy and Nagaland Press Accreditation Policy, before it is finalized. The NPA submitted a memorandum to the Parliamentary Secretary which suggested necessary amendments in the draft proposals of both the policies on October 28 at Kohima in his office chamber. The NPA pointed out that the “Nagaland Accreditated Journalists Welfare Fund” should cover all the working journalists in the State, including Accreditated & Non-Accreditated Journailsts. The Association also suggested that to provide assistance to working journalist, irrespective of being “accreditated or non-accreditated” the criteria set by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting “Guidelines for Journalist Welfare Scheme” can be referred and modified to suit the journalists of the State. During the meeting with the Parliamentary Secretary and Additional Director, IPR, Limawati the NPA also mentioned that there should be no fixed ceiling of annual income of a journalist to set the criteria for availing the benefits, as it would make many working journalists ineligible for availing the benefits under the scheme. Both the Parliamentary Secretary and the Additional Director, IPR agreed to make necessary amendments in the draft proposals. In regards to the Nagaland News Media Accreditation Rules 2015, the NPA pointed out that it lacks clarity on definition of journalists/media organizations, who should come under the purview of the rules, and therefore needed serious review. The NPA also demanded that while composing the Accreditation Committee, members from the existing Press Clubs and Media Association should also be included, who could help in identifying the journalists. A statement issued by Nagaland Press Association President K Temjen Jamir said the NPA was told that the draft rules would be reviewed at the earliest with necessary changes as pointed out in the memorandum and make the Welfare Fund available within this financial year.