Indian Journalist Association deliberates on Journalist Protection Law; vows united struggle.
Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
A crucial meeting of the Kanpur Division unit of the Indian Journalist Association (IJA) was held at M.A. Solanki Public School, Dalel Purwa, Kanpur, to address issues concerning the safety, dignity, rights, and independent functioning of journalists. The meeting was presided over by Kanpur Divisional President Muqeem Ahmad Quraishi. While prominently raising the demand for the enactment of a Journalist Protection Law, the meeting featured serious discussions on the harassment, threats, physical assaults, coercion, and false cases faced by journalists, as well as the difficulties encountered during news gathering. Speakers emphasized that in a democracy, journalists play a vital role in bringing societal issues and the activities of the government and administration to the public's attention.
Therefore, ensuring a fear-free environment for journalists is essential for strengthening the democratic system.
It was stated during the meeting that if a journalist faces threats, violence, coercion, or legal harassment due to news gathering or raising issues of public interest, immediate effective action and an impartial investigation must be ensured upon the filing of a complaint. Emphasis was also placed on the need to establish an effective grievance redressal and monitoring mechanism to handle complaints regarding malicious actions, false cases, and pressure tactics against journalists.
A consensus was reached to comprehensively raise various demands related to the safety, dignity, and social security of journalists, alongside the demand for a Journalist Protection Law. These demands included healthcare facilities, housing arrangements, pensions and social security, financial assistance in the event of accidents or death, medical facilities for journalists and their families, a transparent system for accreditation and identity cards, and the effective implementation of welfare schemes for journalists. Additionally, demands were raised to address the grievances of journalists associated with newspapers, news portals, and digital media; to ensure fair opportunities for small and medium-sized news organizations within advertising policies; to provide information on and access to government schemes for journalists; and to ensure swift action in cases of harassment against them.
Speakers emphasized that for journalism to remain independent, impartial, and fearless, journalists must be economically and socially secure. Merely announcing safety measures is insufficient; the effective and accountable implementation of safety provisions is essential.
It was decided at the meeting to strengthen journalist solidarity and to present issues concerning journalists' interests to the administration in an organized manner. Office bearers stated that the organization would seriously take up cases of harassment or injustice against journalists and raise a strong voice for justice through democratic and constitutional means.
Kanpur Divisional President Muqeem Ahmad Quraishi stated that there would be no compromise regarding the safety and rights of journalists at any level. Journalists serve as the voice of society, conveying information to the public and the administration; therefore, a fear-free and dignified working environment must be ensured for them. Every legitimate issue concerning journalists' interests will be raised vigorously.
A resolution was also adopted to continuously strive at the organizational level to raise voices against the harassment of journalists, advocate widely for a journalist protection law, and seek solutions to the problems faced by journalists.
Key attendees at the meeting included Awadh Province Patron Ashwini Dixit, Awadh Province Secretary Dr. T.A. Lim, Shahrukh Warsi, Nazim Ali Khan, Amit Trivedi, Jitendra Tiwari, Irshad Siddiqui, Manoj Chadha, Mohd. Nafees, Haji Kausar Solanki, and Sheenu Shah, alongside other office bearers and journalist colleagues from the Indian Journalist Association (Kanpur Division unit). At the conclusion of the meeting, a pledge was taken to continuously struggle for the unity, safety, respect, dignity, and rights of journalists, and to raise their voices in a democratic manner.
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