Port Blair, Dec 10: The PCC President, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has earnestly requested the Lt Governor to give special consideration to the media personnel of these islands, as most of them are discharging unbiased duties to the people of these islands tirelessly. In his letter to the Administrator the PCC President has stated that the local journalists are no more less than the journalists of mainland in the field of journalism, except in a few cases, the local journalists never involved in yellow journalism.
He has further stated that most of the journalists are doing their works in very limited conditions due to the fact that they are not provided all such facilities which their counterparts are enjoying in mainland and has thus requested the Administrator to consider them some benefits to enable them to do their works more efficiently, which are transport concession: All the journalists may kindly be allowed free inter islands transportation for covering the local news and at least 50% concession may by be allowed to them in cabin class by sea route for proceeding to mainland once in a year.
Govt guest house accommodation at concessional rate: Concessional accommodation in Andaman Guest Houses at mainland may be considered to them once in a year which will be beneficial for them since they use to pay heavy lodging charges in private accommodations.
Various mainland based training institutions are imparting specialized training to the journalists where every journalist be sent for such training on rotational basis. The cases of lady journalists may be given special consideration for getting themselves trained on priority basis.
Pension benefit: Introduction of family pension benefit scheme for the journalists to give a secured life to their family members be considered on priority basis.
Grants to journalist associations: The journalist association of AN Islands may kindly be allowed a yearly grant to meet up their urgent needs and every year two of the local journalists may be given Lt Governor’s commendation Certificate on scrutiny of their activities.
