Punjab Cong promises welfare fund for journalists

Chandigarh, Jan 29 (UNI) In its manifesto for the February 13 Assembly polls in Punjuab, the Congress today promised to set up a Journalists Welfare Corpus Fund amounting to Rs 10 crore as government contribution.

The party also promised allotment of plots for Group Housing Societies from Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) including Imrpovement Trusts, Municipal Corporations for journalists from both the print and the electronic media.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) manifesto for the state assembly polls was released by AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi here.

The manifesto also assured to provide an insurance cover of Rs seven lakh for each journalist convering the state.

The manifesto also laid stress on liberalising the existing accreditation policy, by making it far more liberal and broad-based to cover even the stringers/correspondents based at state headquarter, district and block levels. The manifesto also promised to liberalise existing free travel bus facility to travel for unlimited mileage in government/km scheme/Municipal Corporation buses, deluxe buses and luxury buses.

In addition to the accredited correspondents, the manifesto also promised that Editors, Deputy Editors, Associate Editors, Chief News Editors, News Editors and Assistant Editors would be entitled for stay in Circuits Houses, PWD Rest Houses and Punjab Bhawans at New Delhi and Chandigarh.

The Congress also promised to increase the number of government houses to be allotted to the journalists from 10 to 25 at state headquarters and, similarly , to increase this number at the district levels.

The manifesto also made mention of establishing an Institute of Mass Communication at Mohali for imparting training to journalists for sharpening their professional skills. The manifesto also called for constituting an award in the name of a prominent journalist to be given for recognition of outstanding contribution made in the field of journalism.

Regarding cable operators, Congress, if voted to power in the state, would declare cable TV trade as a Small Scale Industry (SSI). The party promised to constitute ''Dispute Redressal Cell'' for sorting disputes of cable TV operators.

The party also promised to provide facilities to cable TV operators on the pattern of print/electronic media. The manifesto also promised to take steps to protect the cables as well as outdoor equipments of cable TV operators and also to provide insurance cover facility for outdoor equipment of operators.

UNI