IMPHAL, September 30: There have been cases of people outside the media fraternity using media house issued id-cards to avail certain benefits, All Manipur Working Journalists Union president Wangkhemcha Shamjai said today.
He lamented that many contractors have been often found possessing media id-cards and taking undue advantages.
This has tremendously tarnished the images of the media houses of the State, the AMWJU president claimed before appealing to all concern against issuing id-cards to people outside of the media fraternity.
Shamjai also said that the union will be providing 50 kgs of rice at a subsidised rate of Rs 9.50 per Kg to its members on a monthly basis starting this month.
The initiative has been taken up with support and collaboration from the State Consumers Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, he told fellow media persons during a press conference at the Manipur Press Club.
This will be followed by provision of SK Oil at subsidised rate from next month and if in case the demand for sugar is there it will also be provided, he continued.
However, due to a constraint in fund, the union is unable to pay upfront the amount of Rs 1.80 lakh for 200 quintal of rice and as such appeals to the members desiring to avail the 50 kgs of rice to deposit Rs 455 for the first month at the front desk of the union`™s office during October 1 to 3, he said.
Shamjai also appealed to all media persons holding DIPR card to submit their names for the pension scheme with the department in case they haven`™t done so.
With support from the State Chief Minister, pensions for the media persons have been increased to Rs 4000 per month from Rs 2000 while the pension for widows have also been increased to Rs 2000 from Rs 1000, he said.
He continued the Chief Minister has also assured that the government will allot Rs 5 lakhs on an annual basis for the pension fund for journalists.
Shamjai also appealed to all non-working staff of media houses not to stick `Press` labels on their vehicles and instead to stick the names of their respective firms.
The press meet was also attended by AWMJU general secretary G Naocha Sharma and AWMJU standing committee president Asem Bhakta.