AMRITSAR: Members of Chandigarh-Punjab Journalists Association (CPJA) were here today cane charged when they were heading to Ghero (cordon off) the house of Punjab Information & Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia here today. CPJA President Jasbir Singh Patti condemning the lathi Charge said that it was unwarranted since they were going to hand over the memorandum carrying the demand of working journalists.
Talking about the demands Patti said that they have asked the State Government for Rs. 10 lac accidental Insurance cover, to make sure security for field journalists, fulfill promises made to journalists in the previous elections manifesto and pension Rs. 10,000 per month to all the journalists who have completed the age of 58.
However, Majithia in a statement, has assured CPJA that Punjab government would consider all of their reasonable demands sympathetically. Meanwhile, Prof. Sarchand Singh Media Advisor to Mr. Majithia today received the memorandum from Chandigarh-Punjab Journalists Association regarding their demands.
Majithia said that the Punjab Government is providing various facilities to the working journalists in the state including free bus facility, accidental insurance of Rs.5 lakh to accredited and even to yellow card holders, establishing press clubs in districts, smart cards, stay for accredited journalists in circuit houses on concessional rates. Prof. Sarchand Singh Media Advisor to Mr. Majithia received the memorandum from Chandigarh-Punjab Journalists Association regarding their demands. and said that Majithia has apprised him that the Punjab government would consider genuine demands of the Chandigarh-Punjab Journalists Association.
Majithia said that SAD-BJP government has raised the sum of free bus travel for journalists to Rs. 1600 per year for headquarter correspondents and Rs. 1200 to correspondents based in districts. Divulging more, he said that earlier, the Congress government used to provide paltry sum of Rs.1200 for accredited correspondents and desk journalists based at headquarters whereas those working in 24 districts used to get only Rs. 800 per year. The Minister said that the SAD-BJP government also extended the facility of free travel in HVAC air conditioned buses to correspondents.