Skip to content Skip to navigation

JFA urges political parties to show gestures

As Assam prepares for the next Legislative Assembly election in the next few weeks, a media forum urged all political parties to show their sincerity towards the implementation of various welfare schemes for media persons, engaged in both print & electronic media. Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) also insisted on enrolling a special protection law for scribes on duty in the election manifestos by both the regional and national political parties. Expressing grave concern over helpless working condition of media persons, particularly the private television employees including working journalists in northeast India, the forum appealed to the Union government to look into the matter seriously.

The forum, in a statement issued by its president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria, argued that nearly 80% working journalists of the region are still performing their duties with pitiable salaries (read monthly financial package), unlimited working hours and without any facilities recommended by the country's labour laws.

The forum pointed out that the reporters and camera persons, engaged with the satellite news channels of the region have to work in a vulnerable atmosphere with low wages, more than 8 hours working period in a day, without weekly off-day, no leaves in need and with no comprehensive facility for life & health insurance coverage. Earlier the JFA raised demands for a social media audit across India where the readers/viewers can find a transparent picture of the financial dealings involved with their favourite news papers and news channels.

“The media audit should address various vital issues relating to the media market in the country,” said the forum adding that the exercise in the long run should help the journalists and non-journalist media employees to get due benefits supported by the law of the land.

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Beware of religious tension: ULFA(I)

27 Jul 2016 - 2:53pm | AT News
The United Liberation Front of Asom (I) has warned of an outbreak of religious tension in Assam in near future. In a statement issued to media on Wednesday, the chief of the proscribed outfit...

State seeks Rs 630 crore from Centre

23 Aug 2009 - 2:22am | Mowsam Hazarika
The State Agriculture Department has demanded an assistance of Rs. 630.61 crore from the Central Government to overcome the impact of the drought-like situation it has faced this monsoon. The demand...

Heatstroke continues

13 Jun 2013 - 9:21am | AT News
No relief seems to be waiting the sun-burnt people on Thursday. Guwahati is set to break 33 year old record on Thursday. The city was hit by temperature of 39 degree Celsius on Wednesday. The death...

Tearful farewell to lifeless Hiren Bhatta

5 Jul 2012 - 6:22pm | editor
People thronged in thousands at the Navagraha cremation ground on Thursday morning to get the last glimpse of famed poet Hiren Bhatta who breathed his last on Wednesday. His body was taken away from...

Other Contents by Author

KOKRAJHAR, OCT 28: A significant awareness program was organized on Monday at Jalah Girls’ High School in Baksa district, focusing on child protection mechanisms, human trafficking, and the safety and empowerment of women and children. The initiative was a joint effort by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the ICDS project, Jalah, under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department. Dr. Lipika Barman, the District Child Protection Officer of Baksa (in-charge), presided over the event. Kalpana Das, CDPO of the ICDS Project, Jalah, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the...
Guwahati: The 8th Chalachitram National Film Festival – 2024 concluded at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on October 27, celebrating diverse cinematic works. Jaswandha, directed by Shoneel Yallattikar, won the Best Film in the rest of India category, while A Sylvan Saga by Jyoti Prasad Das was awarded the Best Film in Northeast India. Das also took home the Best Director award, and Abhijit Nayak received the Best Screenplay award for Wrong Number, directed by Bijit Borgohain. Awards for Best Cinematography went to Angsuman Barua & Pradip Ch Sarma for Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya and Chida Bora & Saril Nandan Deka for Teens of 1942 (directed by Samiran Deka). The Best Editing...
Guwahati, 25 October 2024 – Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati Off-Campus celebrated its 11th Convocation for the graduating class of 2024 at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre Auditorium, Guwahati. Distinguished guests included Chief Guest Prof. Gauri Dutt Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), TISS Chancellor Prof. D.P. Singh, and other dignitaries who gathered to commemorate the achievements of the graduates. The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp, accompanied by Saraswati Vandana. In his welcome address, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Shankar Das congratulated the 165 graduates—five Ph.D. scholars, 112 postgraduates, and...
Guwahati: The annual Chalachitram National Film Festival will begin on Saturday in Guwahati, Assam. This year's festival, themed "Our Heritage, Our Pride," will showcase 50 documentary and short feature films.  The two-day event, organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, aims to foster nationalism through film and pay tribute to India's rich heritage. The festival will be inaugurated at Jyoti Chitraban premises in Kahilipara on October 26. A variety of films from across India will be screened, covering topics such as land and people, tourism, arts, handicrafts, and social issues. The inaugural film will be "The Last Generation," directed by Prabal...
The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam. This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher. Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been...
Join Our Dedicated Volunteer Team! Assam Times, a volunteer-run news platform established in 2007, is seeking talented individuals to join our team as English to Assamese volunteer translators. Are you: A native Assamese speaker with excellent fluency in written English? Passionate about accurate and culturally sensitive translations? Committed to delivering high-quality content for our readers? If so, we want to hear from you! Responsibilities: Translate a variety of news articles and content from English to Assamese, ensuring accuracy and clarity. Maintain a consistent and high-quality writing style for Assam Times. Meet deadlines and communicate...
Guwahati, September 18: Aaranyak, in partnership with the Namdapha Tiger Reserve Authority and supported by the Arcus Foundation, has initiated a groundbreaking Hoolock gibbon conservation education program in the fringe areas of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. This initiative, which commenced on August 22, is the first of its kind in the state and aims to create a community of young conservationists who can actively contribute to the protection of this endangered primate. The program has reached 17 schools in the Miao subdivision, covering students from upper primary to higher secondary levels. The sessions, conducted by the Primate Research and...
Diets rich in ultra-processed foods have long been associated with a myriad of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death. However, the vast category of ultra-processed foods encompasses a wide range of products, from seemingly benign options like whole-grain bread and plant-based milk to more obvious culprits like hot dogs and sugary sodas. A recent groundbreaking study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shed new light on the specific types of ultra-processed foods that pose the greatest risk to heart health. This comprehensive study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, analyzed data...
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros and diverse ecosystems, is at a critical crossroads. Known for its rich biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of local communities with nature, Kaziranga's landscape and social fabric are under threat. The Assam government's push to boost tourism by transferring land adjacent to the park to private hospitality industries has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities and the ecological future of the region. The Push for Luxury Tourism Today marks a significant step in the Assam government's tourism agenda, with the signing of another...
The mid-20th century in America was a time when smoking was as normal and ubiquitous as eating. Picture this: in 1956, the average American smoked about 4,000 cigarettes a year. That’s a half-pack a day, for everyone—men, women, and even some children were all puffing away, encouraged by a relentless media, celebrities, and even health professionals. Fast forward to 2019, and while smoking rates have plummeted, a new health crisis has taken its place—our diet. Today, the leading cause of death and disability in the United States is not smoking; it's what we eat. The Global Burden of Disease Study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, identifies poor diet as the #1 cause of...