Kohima Press Club (KPC) has submitted a representation to the Advisor, Information and Public Relations, Nagaland, raising a number of concerns and proposals which it said would “greatly improve the functioning and welfare of the media in the state, strengthening its role as the Fourth Estate.”
In the memorandum signed by KPC President Alice Yhoshü and General Secretary Vishü Rita Krocha, the Club appealed for the implementation of the Nagaland Working Journalists’ Pension Scheme. “Considering the demanding nature of journalism as a profession, the institution of a pension scheme for journalists in Nagaland is the need of the hour, which would provide financial security to journalists in their post-retirement phase and would be a significant step towards acknowledging their vital contributions to the society,” it stated.
It further pointed out that such schemes are already in place in most of the states of the country including Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. “The state of Manipur implemented the Journalists Pension Scheme in 1996, the Government of Assam implemented it in 2016 and Arunachal Pradesh in 2021. Mizoram announced its Scheme in 2022,” the Club reminded.
While acknowledging that it is up to the State Government and the Department of IPR to frame guidelines, KPC suggested that “the DIPR can study the guidelines of the Northeastern states and try to formulate the Pension Scheme for the Journalists of Nagaland in consultation with working journalists.”
The Club also proposed enhancement of the operational subsidies provided to Accredited Journalists. “We would like to propose that the operational subsidies provided to Accredited Journalists be enhanced from the existing Rs.4000 and Rs.6000 to Rs.8000 and Rs.10,000, while making provisions for an increment every three years,” the representation stated. According to KPC, such an enhancement “would provide substantial support and facilitate improved journalistic output.”
In matters regarding the Journalists’ Welfare Fund, KPC reiterated that “the financial assistance under Journalists Welfare Fund be extended to cover the dependents of journalists, including spouses, children, or, in the case of unmarried journalists, parents and minor siblings.” It further suggested that “decisions regarding the release of funds be made within a pre-decided time frame, providing certainty and timely support to journalists and their families.”
The memorandum also echoed concerns recently raised by Mokokchung Press Club over the rise of unregulated content. “We, the Kohima Press Club hold similar concerns and we are deeply disturbed at the way the rise of social media contents is creating confusion among the public while consuming news. Unverified news poses a threat to traditional and trustworthy news and eventually also affects the very profession of journalists who go the extra mile in gathering news,” it stated.
Further, KPC urged the Advisor to ensure that official press conferences are properly routed through the DIPR. “We would like to urge upon you to initiate steps and ensure that State Government official Press Conferences be routed through proper channel, via the DIPR, who can subsequently inform the Press Club whose members represent the established state, regional and national Media Houses,” the representation stated, adding that this will “go a long way in streamlining the immediate aforementioned concerns as well while ensuring decorum and protocol.”
Conveying optimism, KPC said it believes the Advisor’s leadership “will positively impact the profession of journalism in the state” and expressed hope for a positive response.
