Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Oct 9: Press Council of India (PCI) today released a report on role of media and media scenario in Jammu and Kashmir in which it recommended increase in advertisements to State’s newspapers while it also sought implementation of journalists’ welfare fund schemes for the local journalists.
A five member committee of PCI led by its chairman Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad released ‘Report of the sub-committee to examine the report of interlocutors on media and media scenario of Jammu and Kashmir’ here in summer capital after meeting various groups of media persons and officials numbering about 300 in Kashmir. The PCI committee had also visited Jammu and Ladakh divisions of the State.
The PCI in its report said that during its committee’s interaction with various newspaper editors, owners and journalists, “they all spoke about discrimination they, particularly medium and small newspapers/periodicals, faced in the issue of Government advertisements and the rates of the State which is one of the lowest in the country.
“Since the survival of the media is vital in the interest of the nation and democracy, it has to be supported by the Government. The State Government has also come out with a policy of empanelment and advertisement but it shall have to be implemented in full without discrimination,” the PCI said in its conclusions. Noting that J&K is passing through a “disturbing situation”, the PCI said “it is tough to perform journalistic duty in such an environment without adequate safety precautions”.
“News photographers, camerapersons and reporters, therefore, should be provided with safety kits, including bullet-proof jacket and helmets, by their organizations or the Government as they, too, are performing public duty,” the PCI concluded. The PCI said that journalists in J&K have been living without any welfare measures for a very long time and even in cases of death or serious injuries, there is no one to take care of them or they or their families have to face the hardship all by themselves.
The PCI committee said that it is “really concerned” about the stoppage of Internet and mobile services in the State. “In this age, no media can work without these supports. The policy of curbs on Internet and mobile services has to be reviewed urgently,” it said, adding that the committee was “surprised to know that in Ladakh region, Internet of BSNL was down for four months and even now, no Internet or mobile data works in the area regularly”. It added that the authorities need to take care of these issues on a priority basis.
The report said that there are “suspicions” about cross-border funding to some media organizations in Jammu and Kashmir but press body observed that “conclusive evidence of such funding is difficult to come”. They (Government agency) alleged that funding across the border was there some 25 years ago, but it cannot be verified or crosschecked now.
There is no major complaint about such funding of newspapers now, but there are such suspicions because of ‘anti-Central/State Government or anti-armed forces writings’ by some newspapers and journalists,” it said. The report in its conclusions asked the Government and their agencies to file complaints with regard to unhealthy sources of funding with the apex press body “which could then consider these on merit and decide”. It however said that “even the Government agency could not provide any evidence in this regard”.
The PCI in its recommendations said that the allocation of advertisement revenue and rate of advertisement in the State should be increased by the State Government. “Further DAVP’s policy be adopted for the distribution of advertisements,” it said, adding that the DAVP should also increase its quantum of advertisement in J&K. Further the PCI recommended that small papers/periodicals should be given Centre/State advertisements in all regions of J&K, particularly in border areas.
The PCI recommended in its report that the army and paramilitary forces should also work out (on) a more liberal and transparent information system to give news as soon as possible to local journalists. “The Public Relations Departments need to play a more proactive role in providing information and facilitating coverage during any operations. The apex press body also recommended regular interaction between local journalists and armed forces, police and the Government to “control misinformation”.
The apex press body in its recommendation said that the gap between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the national media should be bridged. “Inter-regional media exchange will promote a better understanding among Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh journalists. Similarly, J&K journalists should be encouraged to visit other parts of the nation and interact with their counterparts there,” it said, adding that the journalist teams from other parts of the country should similarly visit the State to interact with the J&K journalists to understand the State.
The PCI recommended that J&K journalists’ welfare fund scheme should cover all working journalists and be implemented without any further delay. The journalists already injured should be reimbursed all the medical expenses incurred by them, it recommended.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti hosted dinner for the visiting delegation of Press Council of India (PCI) headed by Chairman, Justice (R) C K Prasad.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Minister for Information & FCS&CA, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali; Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb Drabu; Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Principal Secretary Home, R K Goyel; DGP, S P Vaid; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal and Director Information, Muneer ul Islam were present on the occasion.
The delegation apprised the Chief Minister of the impressions and observations of their visit to the State.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
