The Shillong Times to implement Wage Board recommendations
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan has said that time was ripe to go for “inspirational journalism” as he urged the media fraternity to instill hope and confidence among the people to help them progress further by highlighting “positive news”. Speaking at the annual general meeting of Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) here on Saturday, Shanmuganathan said that taking a break from negativity, a more constructive and positive approach should be adopted by the journalists so as to contribute to the overall development of the State. While stating that journalism in the State should progress and elevate, the Governor said, “Media persons should be the crusaders of the society and champions of certain causes… above all inspirational journalism is the need of the hour”. According to the Governor, with much power and strength at its disposal, media has assumed foremost importance in governance and should not lose sight of its objectives and responsibilities. The Governor, who was also in journalism, editing a fortnightly for as many as 25 years, said that the fundamental objective of journalism is to serve the people with news, views, comments and information of public interests which should be done in a fair, accurate, unbiased and decent manner and language keeping in mind the cascading effect media has on society. ST to implement wage board Addressing the gathering, former Editor of The Shillong Times, Manas Chaudhuri said that the State’s oldest daily will implement the wage board recommendations and even urged other media houses in Meghalaya to follow suit. “We have taken a decision to implement wage board and we hope that the newspapers which follow the lowest grade in Meghalaya will also pay as per wage board,” he said. According to Chaudhuri, this will be a game changer and will attract better talents. He also hoped that this will bring better outputs and improve the quality. In this context, he urged the State government to improve the advertisement revenue. Commenting on the lack of protection to the media persons, Chaudhuri said that journalists in India are not protected by the Constitution unlike the USA. Chaudhuri added that the only strength for journalists in India is the freedom of expression which is applicable to any other individual. He also quoted international media houses to highlight the need to follow objective journalism. According to Chaudhuri, the demand of MEPA to establish a single window agency for release of advertisements to newspapers is a long pending one even as he added that the methodology of raising this demand has to change now. Earlier, the Editor of Assam Bani, Dilip Chandan, who highlighted the role of vernacular journalism in the Northeast region, also brought to light the issues faced by journalists. Citing the recent killing of journalists elsewhere in the country, Chandan stressed the need to have enough protection for journalists who work under trying circumstances. Awards were also presented to media persons and those associated with media houses on the occasion by the Governor.
Awardees
The recipients of the awards included senior journalists, Sumar Sing Sawian and late GW Lyngdoh. Devin Kharsyntiew, the oldest newspaper hawker in Meghalaya and Baidhyanath Singh, who has put in uninterrupted 25 years of service in Eastern Panorama, were also bestowed with awards.
Resolution
Earlier, the MEPA in its meeting adopted a seven point resolution which includes the need to enhance corpus of Journalist Welfare Fund, pension scheme for journalists, health insurance scheme, establishment of media centres in all districts, release of a clear cut advertisement policy and also to create a single window agency in the Directorate of Information and Public Relation for clearance of advertisement bills, the need to exempt press vehicles in toll gates, issuing of special press pass to genuine media vehicles and training for media persons and new recruits.
Office bearers
The MEPA also elected new office bearers for the term 2016-17. The office bearers are president, R. Monarch Shabong, vice presidents, John W Thabah and Kamal Jhunjhunwala, general secretary, Philip Marwein, joint secretaries, Thomas Lim and Allwyn G Kynta, organising secretary, Kyrmenlang Uriah and treasurer, Amethys L. Blah. The executive members include M.M Thaiang, Lambok Thabah, Deimaia Siangshai, Deepak Singh Jyala, Anthony Nongbri, Ruhi Phawa and Starphing Pdahkasiej