National Working Committee meeting of Indian Journalist Union held in Jaipur, attended by journalist representatives from 28 states of the country

Jaipur (RNI) The two-day meeting of the National Working Committee of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) began on Saturday at Parshuram Bhawan in Vidyadhar Nagar, Jaipur. Senior journalists, editors, and representatives of journalist organizations from 28 states across the country attended the meeting.

The program started with lighting of lamps and Saraswati Vandana.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Government Premchand Bairwa, Urban Development Minister Jhawar Singh Kharra, and Chairman of State Finance Commission Dr. Arun Chaturvedi were present as special guests.

Journalists are the eyes and ears of society: Bairwa

In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa said that journalists are the eyes and ears of society, but today they face many challenges. He said, "Journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy. The government is ready to take concrete steps towards the welfare of journalists to strengthen this pillar. Journalists' suggestions will be seriously considered."

He also said that the state government is soon considering strengthening the Journalist Welfare Fund and introducing new facilities for accredited journalists.

Credibility has become the biggest challenge: Jhawar Singh Kharra

Urban Development Minister Jhawar Singh Kharra said that in today's technological era, news reaches across the country in a moment, but maintaining credibility has become the biggest challenge for journalism.
He said, "Social media has increased the speed of news, but the tradition of investigation and fact-checking is weakening. This further increases the responsibility of journalists to deliver accurate and unbiased news to the public."

Print media still trustworthy: Dr. Chaturvedi

Dr. Arun Chaturvedi, Chairman of the State Finance Commission, said that in this era of social media and digital platforms, the problem of "fake news" is becoming more serious. He added that print media remains the most trusted medium, but it must also keep pace with modern technological changes.
He urged journalists to maintain their impartiality, sensitivity and responsibility – as this is the true identity of journalism.

In-depth discussion on journalist interests and safety

Speaking at the executive session of the meeting, IJU President K. Srinivas Reddy said that the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board should be fully implemented across the country to ensure fair wages and workplace safety for journalists.
He said that in many states, journalists have to work in unfair conditions, which is affecting their mental and financial health.

General Secretary Balwinder Singh Jammu reiterated the demand for bringing the Journalist Protection Bill, so that journalists can get legal protection from attacks and false cases.
Former President S.N. Sinha stressed the need to strengthen the organization at the grassroots level and to curb the arbitrariness prevailing in media institutions.

Responsibility given to new leadership

In the meeting, IJU election officer Mahesh Babu Sinha announced the new executive.
Balwinder Singh Jammu (Punjab) was unanimously elected the new national president of IJU, while D. Somasundaram (Andhra Pradesh) was given the responsibility of the post of general secretary.
The House welcomed both of them with thunderous applause.

New president Balwinder Singh said the organization will serve as the voice of journalists in every state of the country. He added, “Protecting the rights of journalists and safeguarding press freedom is IJU’s top priority.”

Discussion on safety of journalists and democracy

The meeting saw serious discussions on issues such as attacks on journalists, false cases, protection of democracy, freedom of the press and increasing corporate control in the media.
The representatives also demanded that the Central Government implement the Journalist Protection Act at the national level and make insurance and pension schemes accessible to journalists.

Delegates from across the country

Journalist representatives from all states including Telangana, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra were present in the meeting.
Many senior journalists shared their experiences and gave suggestions on the future roadmap of the organization.

Next plenary session in Avantika

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was announced that the next plenary session of the Indian Journalists Union would be held in Avantika, the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
While expressing gratitude on this occasion, senior journalists said that this meeting held in Jaipur became a symbol of unity and responsibility of journalists.

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