SCRIBES CALL FOR AUTONOMOUS MEDIA COMMISSION AND DIRECT ACTION ON COMMON DEMANDS

The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) at an emergency general body called upon the government to take immediate steps for early announcement of an autonomous media commission along with a press council extended media council with some teeth, to help end the jungle law in the growing 'media bazaar.'

It has further called for immediate announcement of interim relief for the print media as some wage board members were seeking diversions on non-issues it charged and delay was causing unrest.

The meeting noted with concern that even after 31 years there has been no press commission in the lines of the first and second press commission. A media commission is the need of the hour. And an autonomous one at that of experts.

The DUJ meeting noted with concern that the central government was withdrawing step by step, health and other welfare measures available to the press. This would no longer be tolerated; the meeting stressed demanding restoration of all facilities withdrawn

The general body also called upon the Delhi state government to bring out a white paper on complaints of unfair labour practices in the news industry or to take action as required by law. It noted with concern that even as the government announced the wage board, wage board employees were arbitrarily sacked.

The meeting followed up with a get together with press workers from all newspaper establishments in the capital where a press initiative 2008 on a minimum charter of demands was announced. It was unanimously decided that a phased wise action programme would begin in a fortnight.

The body condoled the deaths of veteran journalists Upendra Vajpeyi, P.N. Jalali, Ramesh Arora, Tribhuvan Nath and executive member Kunwarjee Anjum.