Dimapur, March 12 (EMN): Nagaland Press Association (NPA) appealed the State government to fully implement the Nagaland Journalists Welfare Scheme effectively beginning from 2017-18 Financial Year.
NPA, in its general meeting on March 11 at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur, urged the State government to demonstrate political will towards by allocating the financial requirements during the upcoming Budget Session.
NPA recalled that in 2016, it had registered protest against the Accreditation policy proposed by the State government and consequently made some suggestions to empower media persons in the State with accommodative spirit. NPA urged the government to initiate a consultation process with the media fraternity so that an acceptable, applicable and practical Accreditation policy for Nagaland can be formulated without further delay.
A NPA press release issued by its general secretary Along Longkumer said the house has taken serious note on the rising intimidation and threats made against media houses in Nagaland. While it resolved to be a responsible and accountable medium in upholding the freedom of speech and expression, the house reaffirmed to be resolute against forces that threaten to reduce the democratic space of media houses.
To strengthen and build better understanding, the house proposed to hold a consultation meeting of the entire media fraternity in Nagaland soon. The NPA’s interim executives were entrusted with the responsibility of doing the ground work to ensure that the consultation meeting is inclusive and represented by all sections of the media fraternity.
The house further resolved that the NPA would request the media houses/newspapers to encourage their staff (working journalists and non-journalists, including the printing staff) to actively participate in strengthening the NPA.
In order to keep the media fraternity informed and updated with new learning, NPA decided to organise a refresher workshop (orientation programme) for journalists in Nagaland in 2017.
