Haryana Governor Supports Wage Board and Safety Legislation for Journalists
Panchkula (Chandigarh, Haryana), August 4: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya has assured that he will advocate for the Indian Journalists Union’s (IJU) demand to restore the Wage Board for Working Journalists with the Central Government. Speaking at the IJU National Council meetings held in Panchkula on August 3 and 4, Dattatreya also expressed support for a special law to ensure the safety of working journalists.
Dattatreya, the chief guest at the event, emphasized the crucial role of the media in a democracy. “Governments come and go, parties come and go, but the country is eternal. Democracy is key to the development of the country, and a strong media is essential for this,” he stated.
Highlighting the media’s responsibility to report the actions of governments, Dattatreya said, “It is the media’s duty to bring both the good and bad deeds of the government to the public. Journalists who pursue the truth with dedication are respected, even by Chief Ministers.”
He also addressed the threats faced by journalists who expose corruption and irregularities. “To bring the truth to light, journalists must perform their duties with fearlessness, courage, and commitment. There is a need for special legislation to protect these journalists, and I will take this demand to the Central Government,” Dattatreya assured.
Reflecting on his previous role as Union Labor Minister, Dattatreya recounted his efforts to address the need for a Wage Board for journalists. “With the repeal of the Working Journalist Act, the Wage Board was also abolished. There is a need to provide wage security for working journalists, and I will raise this issue with the Centre,” he promised.
Dattatreya also spoke about the evolving media landscape due to technological advancements and the introduction of artificial intelligence. He stressed the importance of maintaining media values, saying, “Media without values cannot be trusted, and media without credibility cannot be respected. Journalists should provide information as it is, rather than expressing opinions instead of news.”
IJU National President K. Srinivas Reddy, who presided over the meeting, praised Dattatreya’s long-standing commitment to journalism and the welfare of journalists. He described Dattatreya as a leader who connects with common people and remains accessible to everyone.
The meeting was attended by IJU Steering Committee members Devulapalli Amar, S.N. Sinha, IJU General Secretary Balwinder Singh Jammu, Chandigarh Haryana Journalist Union President Ram Singh Brar, Chairman Balwant Takshi, Chandigarh Press Club President Nalini Acharya, IJU National Secretary Balbir Singh Jhandu, and other prominent journalists. The IJU leaders honored Governor Dattatreya for his contributions and support.
