Journalists stage 'dharna' demanding new Wage Board in Goa

Panaji, May 1 (UNI) Journalists staged a dharna here today on the occasion of the International Labour Day, demanding immediate constitution of a new wage board and announcement of not less than 50 per cent interim relief for both journalists and non-journalists in the country.

Wielding placards and shouting slogans, the agitators, under the banner of Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), marched to the Azad Maidan in the heart of the city. They demanded that the state government announce a Rs 1 crore corpus fund for pension scheme.

Expressing their resentment against recruitment of journalists on ''contract basis'' and blocking promotional opportunities of the staffers, the journalists sought announcement of a media policy by the Centre that could further help strengthen their working conditions.

''This could be achieved through unity among the journalists and non-journalists, whose struggles over the years since early 1950s under the leadership of late M Chalapathi Rao and K Ramaraon led to the constitution of press commissions and wage boards,'' the leaders who spoke on the occasion, said.

The protestors also favoured constitution of a ''Media Commission'' to study the working conditions and status of different media, including the electronic media, to better their lot besides bringing them under the purview of the Working Journalists Act.

They regretted that the wage board, which was to be constituted every three years, had not yet been constituted after a lapse of 13 years while the government pay commissions had been constituted promptly.

The 'dharna' was greeted by the state AITUC leader Christopher Fonseca, who had earlier led a massive procession of labour force from different industries which culminated in a rally at the Municipal Park to celebrate the May Day.

UNI