KNS By : KNS | Srinagar, Publish Date: Friday, February 23, 2018 5:24:55 PM | Updated Date : Friday, February 23, 2018 5:37:57 PM
Srinagar, Feb 23 (KNS): A delegation of Jammu Kashmir Press Association led by its President, G H Kaloo, called on the Chief Secretary B.B. Vyas at his Jammu Office Tuesday, 20th February 2018 to present long awaited demands of the Media.
According to reports, a delegation of JK Press Association comprising of large number of Editors led by its President met the State Chief Secretary and discussed media related issues threadbare.
It was emphasized that the Advertisement Policy --2016 suffered from many infirmities and as such the JKPA had suggested certain amendments but not implemented so far.
On the contrary, the Officials of the Information Department resorted to unfair distribution of advertisements well before the actual implementation of the said Policy, thereby deprived ninety five percent Media Houses of their due advertisement quotas. This created an unbridgeable gap between the Media Houses and the government.
To add salt to the wounds, the Information Department has remained busy in devising new means and methods to make the said Advertisement Policy more and more harsh to suit to some Media Houses so that majority of newspapers become ineligible to get their due.
It is worth mentioning that such conditions are not even applicable in the realm of DAVP, which is the sole Central Agency for the distribution of advertisements across the country.
It was also conveyed to the CS that some newspapers have started to switch over to twelve and sixteen pages from four to twelve just to score points. This smacks of conspiracy to suppress majority of Media Houses in the State of J&K.
The delegation also raised voice against denying compensation to those Media Houses which suffered huge losses during 2014 Floods whereas others were given compensation long back. It was also impressed that genuine Editors stand ignored in respect of residential accommodation by the Estates Department which needs redressal without any delay.
Lastly it was emphasized that the majority of Media Houses are on the brink of closure if the discriminatory attitude of the Functionaries of the Information Department is not put to an end. But the Chief Secretary assured and promised to review all the issues raised by the delegation at an early date. (KNS)