PANAJI: Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) has directed its executive committee not to participate in any activity or programme of the state government till the probe report of the Soiru Komarpant police assault case is released by the government.

At its annual general body meeting held on Saturday in the city, the members of the GUJ have expressed indignation and annoyance over the fact that the said report is not being released or no action taken by the government despite repeated assurances by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat to the GUJ. The assault case is completing two years next week.

Several issues of employment, working conditions and welfare of journalists in the state were debated and discussed at the meeting presided over by GUJ president, Mr Prakash Kamat.

The members also expressed dissatisfaction over the slackness in implementation of the various welfare schemes of journalists by the Department of Information and Publicity. The journalists wanted the Department of Information and Publicity to depute special officers to implement the schemes like Journalist Pension Scheme, Journalist Benevolent Fund and interest-free laptop
loan scheme.

If the government fails to efficiently implement various schemes, then a day-long dharna will be held in Panaji, to protest against lackadaisical attitude of the government on August 1, says the press release here. The members expressed happiness that the demand for accreditation to South Goa Journalists has been incorporated by the Press Accreditation Committee headed by GUJ president, Mr Prakash Kamat in the new accreditation rules being framed by the government.

The GUJ meeting resolved to demand that the government must retain the press room in the old secretariat complex once the complex is ready.

It was decided to write to Transport Department to take immediate action against misuse of ‘Press’ stickers on vehicles and that journalists should carry their identity cards for identification.

A disciplinary and ethics committee was formed under veteran journalist, Mr Flaviano Dias, Mr Gurudas Sawal, Mr Ashley Rosario and Dr Bala Murli Krishna.

A seven member committee was formed to study and review the existing journalists’ welfare and pension scheme as many members complained about several inadequacies in the scheme.

A committee under Sagar Jawdekar will study the issue of granting membership of GUJ to electronic media. It has been decided to revive the umbrella organization of journalists and non-journalists employees to readdress the problems faced by them.