JFA urges pol parties to implement welfare schemes for scribes

As Assam prepares for the Assembly elections, a media forum has urged all political parties to show sincerity towards implementation of various welfare schemes for media persons engaged in both print and electronic media.
The Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) insisted on a special protection law for scribes on duty in their election manifestos by both regional and national political parties.
Expressing grave concern over the "helpless working conditions of media persons, particularly the private television employees, and working journalists in Northeast India," the Forum appealed the Centre to look into the matter seriously.
The Forum, in a statement issued by its president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria, said nearly 80 per cent working journalists of the region were still performing their duties with pitiable salaries, unlimited working hours and without any facilities recommended by the country's labour laws.

The reporters and camera persons engaged by satellite news channels of the region have to work in a vulnerable atmosphere with low wages, more than eight hours of working period in a day, without any weekly off-day, no leaves in need and with no comprehensive facility for life and health insurance coverage, the statement said.
Earlier the JFA had demanded for a social media audit across India where the readers/viewers can find a transparent picture of the financial dealings involved with their favourite newspapers and news channels.
"The media audit should address various vital issues relating to the media market in the country," said the Forum adding, the exercise in the long run should help journalists and non-journalist media employees to get due benefits supported by the law of the land.