IFWJ Working Committee Meet at Bhopal

The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) is to hold its Working Committee Meeting at Bhopal on 24th August 2008 at Bhopal. Delegations from Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Kerala, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and many other states will to attend the meet, to be held at Hotel Palaash. The Working Committee is expected to focus on various aspects of the Wage Board.

The meeting will serve as an occasion for inauguration of the Syllabus of the recently launched Distance Education System (DES). Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, and president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President, Shri Suresh Pachouri, are expected to do the honours.

MWJU State Working Committee Meeting held at Amravati

By Arvind Shende

The Working Committee meeting of the Maharashtra Working Journalists Union (MWJU) was held at Amravati on the 17th of August 2008. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Anil Mahatme, President of the MWJU in the presence of IFWJ National Council member Mr. Sharad Chaudhary and Advisory Board member Mr. Jayant Harkare.

The Working Committee meeting at PWD Rest House, Badnera, was hosted by the Amravati District unit. Schemes for Pension, Insurance and Housing for Journalists figured prominently on the agenda of the Working Committee meeting. Problems faced by journalists in getting credit, effects of load shedding on small and medium newspapers in Maharashtra and inclusion of contracted employees in wage board were also discussed.

Pension, Insurance and Housing on agenda

Since pensions are not an option for contracted workers, various alternatives were considered. The Working Committee proposed to study schemes and models being implemented in other states in order to finalize a draft Pension scheme. The draft will be presented to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a meeting this October. The name ‘Shraddha Nidhi’ was proposed for the scheme.

Various Insurance schemes like accident insurance, life insurance and mediclaim coverage were also considered. Suitability of such schemes and ways to adapt them for both rural and urban journalists was discussed.

A committee headed by Mr. Sharad Chaudhary and consisting of Mr. Anil Mahatme, Mr. Anil Agrawal and Mr. Pramod Marathe was formed to study the various pension and insurance schemes. The committee was mandated with preparation of drafts to be presented at the next Working Committee meeting on 20-21 September 2008 at Ahmednagar.

In order to provide proper housing facilities for working journalists, the MWJU Working Committee proposed creation of another four member committee. Consisting of Mr. Anil Mahatme, Mr. Prakash Bhandare, Dr. Vijaykumar Nilawar and headed by Mr. Jayant Harkare, the committee was asked to take up the task of studying policies implemented in other states, creating and finalizing a draft housing scheme policy for presentation at the next Working Committee meeting.

MWJU Working Committe Members discussing Pension, Insurance and Housing schemes for Journalists at Badnera, Amravati. Photo Courtesy: Amravati Mandal.

Setting up of a Small Newspapers Development Corporation

With the aim of helping small newspapers compete with media giants backed up by corporations with deep pockets, the Working Committee has proposed to push for creation of a Small Newspaper Development Corporation by the state government. The third special purpose committee of the day was formed for this purpose under the chairmanship of Mr. Anil Meghe and consisting of Mr. Bandu Ladke, Mr. Madhukar Badnerkar and Dr. Pramod Marathe.

Adoption of Amravati Pattern for setting up Co Operative Society

After indepth discussion on difficulty that journalists often face in getting credit, the Working Committee decided to adopt the Amravati Patten for setting up of a Co Operative Society for the benefit of member journalists all over Maharashtra.

Appointment of new Working Committee members

Member of National Council, Mr. Sharad Chaudhary proposed appointment of Mr. Anil Agrawal, member of Press Council of India and editor, Dainik Amravati Mandal to the post of Vice President, MWJU. The Working Committee also appointed Mr. Prakash Bhandare, photo journalist from Ahmednagar, to the post of Organising Secretary, MWJU.

Felicitation of gold medalist lady journalist

In a special ceremony, Mrs. Pallavi Kalamkar, journalist at a major news network in Amravati, was felicitated by the Working Committee on being awarded a gold medal by Amravati University for excellent performance in the University’s Bachelor of Mass Communication course.

Mrs. Pallavi Kalamkar being felicitated by Mr. Sharad Chaudhary

Present at the meeting:

Mr. Sharad Chaudhary, IFWJ National Council Member, Mr. Jayant Harkare, IFWJ Advisory Board Member, Mr. Anil Mahatme, President, MWJU, Mr. Jairam Ahuja, Vice President, MWJU, Mr. Anil Agrawal, Vice President, MWJU, Mr. Bandu Ladke, Divisional President, Accreditation Committee, Government of Maharashtra, Mr. Shrinivas Harkare, General Secretary, MWJU, Mr. Vinod Meshram, Treasurer, MWJU, Mr. Ulhas Marathe, District President, Amravati, Mr. Anil Meghe, District President, Wardha, Mr. Ravi Vairale, District President, Akola, Dr. Vijaykumar Nilawar, Hingoli, Mr. Rajendra Mandhana, District President, Washim, Dr. Pramod Marathe, District President, Buldhana, Mr. Prakash Bhandare, Ahmednagar, Mr. Arvind Shende, Mr. Anant Umbharkar, Mr. Sudam Wanare, Mr. Madhukar Badnerkar, Mr. Mukund Panerkar, Mr. Hemant Rudrapawar and Mr. Tamtamkar

Distance Education System lauded by MP Government officials

Journalist Associations should help improve the quality of journalism – Manoj Shrivastava

BHOPAL: Director of Public Relations Mr Manoj Shrivastava today said that Journalist associations should undertake to improve the quality and capabilities of the profession. Shrivastava was speaking on the occasion of dedication to the public of Distance Education System (DES) started by the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ).

Co Ordinator of DES, Mr. Shriniwas Harkare, presented a CD to the Director containing a video presentation of the inauguration of DES at Bapu Kuti, Sewagram in Maharashtra. DES aims to reach far corners of the country to enable journalists and those involved with the media to keep abreast of the latest trends through the internet.

Headed by journalists and education experts, this is the most cost effective mechanism of reaching out to people in every corner of the country. Famous journalist James McDonald said that he considers Journalism to be even more important than the battlefield, added Mr. Shrivastava. Madhya Pradesh government is organising special workshops for rural journalists which is an important landmark in the history of the state. Rural Journalism awards and arrangements in Rublic Relations Policy are being made for the purpose according to Mr Shrivastava. He expressed confidence that DES will greatly benefit journalists in both rural and urban areas.

Distance Education System representatives from Maharashtra and Delhi paid a visit to the Public Relations Office and appreciated the hard work put in by officials in ensuring proper communication between the government and the public.

Present on the occasion were Indian Federation of Working Journalists members Mr Prakash Deshmukh, Mr Shende and Mr. Vinod Meshram from Maharashtra and Mr Lokesh Vajpayee from Delhi, Mr. Krishan Mohan Jha, Mr Ajay Soni, Mr Dinesh Nigam, Mr. Rajendra Kashyap, Mr. Vishweshwar Sharma, Mr. Kailash Sharma, Mr. Sanjay Shukla, Mr. Avinash Jha, Ms. Anurita Pagare, Mr. Mohammed Shahid, Mr. Mahendra Arjariya, Ms. Rizwana Khan, Ms. Vandana Jain alongwith several other journalists.