EMN
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 27
The State Press Accreditation Committee (SPAC) under the Chief Secretary as chairman has agreed to work out a proposal to be submitted to the Chief Minister Nagaland with regard to the institution of Journalist Welfare Fund. This was informed during the general meeting of the Nagaland Press Association (NPA) held on Wednesday at Bookmarc Conference Hall, Dimapur.Interim president of the NPA, K Temjen Jamir during the meeting further disclosed that the proposal of the NPA to have a media coordination committee at the state level was agreed upon during the meeting of the SPAC held recently on November 1 last.
It may be mentioned that on April 17, 2012, the NPA had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland at Kohima wherein important issues relating to the welfare of media persons in the State were raised including the need to formulate suitable policies to provide them benefits which they are entitled for—such as setting up of Journalists Welfare Fund.
In this regard, the general meeting of the NPA held today, through a resolution adopted, expressed gratitude to the state government for considering the request of the NPA to constitute the Journalist Welfare Fund (JWF). However, the NPA felt that the JWF should be constituted at the earliest and reminded the Government of Nagaland to take up the issue of constituting the JWF with top priority for the welfare of the journalist fraternity in the state.
The NPA also resolved to request the state government to examine the demands of the association as submitted through the representation submitted to the CM on April 17, 2012 and subsequently a copy submitted to the Chief Secretary on November 1, 2013.
While appreciating the recent directive of the chief secretary asking all departments in the state to route advertisement to be published in newspapers through the DIPR, the NPA has however expressed strong disappointment that this directive has not been put into action by many of the departments. In this regard, the NPA has sought cooperation and support from all concerned to the long held demand of the press fraternity.
It was also resolved to strengthen the NPA for the common good of the people and to foster fraternity amongst its members. Lastly, the NPA has congratulated former Editor of Eastern Mirror and a founding member of the NPA Diethono Nakhro on her appointment as member Nagaland State Commission for Child Rights (NSCPCR).
Earlier during the meeting, the interim president K Temjen Jamir expressed both hope and determination that through the NPA something good will be done for the fraternity. He also reminded that the NPA was formed not just for the media houses but more importantly it was for the journalists and non-journalist working in the media.
The general and finance report presented during the meeting was accepted by the house. Also a number of amendments were moved and approved by the house. Chairperson, Election Commission, Aküm Longchari later announced the schedule for elections to be held on December 18, 2013 and also the rules and procedures to be followed.
The nomination petition can be collected from the Election Commission at The Morung Express Office from November 27 onwards. The last date of submission of the nomination petition will be on December 10, 2013.
The last date of withdrawal of nomination will be 5 pm, December 13, 2013.
