On the invitation of the Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Smt Simriti Irani, a delegation of the Executive Members of Jammu Kashmir Press Association, led by its President G. H. Kaloo, called on her and the Home Minister at New Delhi and submitted Memoranda containing burning issues being confronted by the Media Houses in the State of J&K.
It was conveyed to them that the Publishers of newspapers in J&K State are placed in an inhospitable environment and so have been facing hardships of the worst order, particularly from 1989 when the State was struck by an unprecedented tumultuous situation. Since then the working conditions have become more difficult due to frequent strikes, restrictions, snapping of mobile and Internet services. It was made clear that J&K State in general and Kashmir Valley in particular lacks Industrial-base and hence no support by way of advertisements to the Media Houses is available from the Private Sector. The Publishers mainly depend on the advertisement support of the Central and State governments.
It was made clear that the newspapers not only publish and propagate policies and programmes of the government, but provide employment to thousands of both skilled and unskilled youth and as such they need encouragement and require to be treated at par with Northeast States in respect of advertisements. It was also pointed out that cost of production of newspapers in J&K State is comparatively higher than their counterparts in rest of the country, so they need more advertisement support from the DAVP Ministry of I&B government of India.
The Empanelment Criteria needs to be soft and not hard to accommodate more and more newspapers to get financial support. It was also stressed that the Accreditation Policy needs reappraisal to include Editors in the eligibility list. It is worth mentioning that the Director General DAVP, Director PIB and other senior officers of the Ministry of I&B attended the meeting and participated in the deliberations.
The Executive Members later called on the DG DAVP and had detailed discussion on various issues of the Media Houses. It was impressed upon them that they have to be liberal both in respect of distribution of advertisements and application of Rules as far as the trouble-torn State is concerned. The delegation later met the Home Minister and had marathon session with him regarding the problems being faced by the publishers of newspapers. He appreciated and agreed with the concerns of the delegation and assured of all help to the Media Houses in the State of J&K.