PCI sub-committee interacts with journos; discusses safety security issues
Ranchi, Mar 14: A sub-committee of the Press Council of India, which is here on a two-day visit, today held discussions with mediapersons and members of various media organisations of the state on issues related to their safety and security, specially in Naxal-dominated Jharkhand.
The seven member sub-committee has been formed under Article 8(1) and 15 of the Press Council of India Act of 1978 after the murder of editor of Mid-Day newspaper J Dey and attacks on mediapersons across different areas of the state.
Presspersons of vernacular dailies, including prominent English dailies, along with reporters of news agencies interacted with the sub-committee which was on its maiden visit to the state.
Replying to a query of the journalists that whether a PCI office could be established in the state so that the commission has a first hand information regarding the problems being faced by the journalists and photographers working here, Kausuri Amarnath, Convenor of the Committee, maintained that logistically, it was not possible to open offices in every state.
"However, members can visit the state every two or three months," Mr Amarnath said, adding that journalists facing any trouble or being harrased by administration as pointed out in the meeting by some mediapeople, can send an email to the PCI which will initiate proper action with in its ambit.
The committee also assured the gathering that whatever problems were being faced by the journalists specially on security front, will be discussed in the meeting with Principal Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police tomorrow.
The other members of the sub-committee included Kalyan Barua, Rajiv Ranjan Naag, Anil Agarwal, Arvind S Tengse, Arun Kumar and Upala Laxman.