IMPHAL, Nov 22 � Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today said that his government is committed to implement the Majithia Wage Board award in the State.
Ibobi shared his government�s plan while speaking at the inaugural function of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of Indian Journalists Union (IJU) held under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists� Union (AMWJU) here on Saturday.
�In response to the demands of the AMWJU my Government has already constituted a Tripartite Committee, in line with the recommendation of the Majithia Wage Board, for working journalists & other newspaper employees,� said Ibobi.
�It has been notified through the Gazette already. Now this Committee will classify and provide foolproof action plan in accordance with the Majithia Wage Board. My Government is fully committed to implement the award for the welfare of the journalist fraternity in the State�, Ibobi stated.
Stating that the State Government has doubled the Journalist Pension Fund, he said that the government is taking positive actions for the welfare of working journalists of the State.
�In spite of our financial constraints, my Government have already agreed to set up a Press Academy as demanded by the AMWJU to uplift the quality of journalism in the State. We are in the process of setting it up and it is in the pipeline,� he said.
Terming the proposal for establishment of the Press Housing Colony which was accepted by the government in principle, as a �landmark visionary idea�, he added, �The Government has identified the land for this Colony at Imphal.�
�I have also issued instruction to the concerned authorities to study the welfare schemes of other States and for adoption of relevant measures in the State, the Chief Minister said.
IJU President SN Sinha, Secretary General Amar Devulapalli, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai Devi, AMWJU President Wangkhemcha Shamjai, delegates and local media persons attended the NEC meeting. IJU has as many as 23,000 members across the country.
The visiting IJU members numbering around 130 will be visiting Loktak tomorrow and it will be followed by a trip to Moreh on November 23.
