IJU National Executive Meeting Concludes in Jaipur
Over 60 Senior Journalists from Across the Country Participate
Chhattisgarh Represented by P.C. Rath and Dilip Sahu
Jaipur,Rajasthan : The two-day National Executive Committee meeting of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) concluded in Jaipur on October 4–5. Over 60 senior journalists representing print, electronic, and digital media from across India participated in the session, focusing on the growing challenges faced by the media fraternity.
The inaugural session was graced by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa as the chief guest, with Urban Development Minister Jhavar Singh Kharra and Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arun Chaturvedi as special guests. IJU President K. Srinivas Reddy, former president S.N. Sinha, Secretary General Balwinder Singh Jammu, and Andhra Pradesh Media Council Chairman K. Suresh were also in attendance.
Key Deliberations
Hosted by the Rajasthan Patrakar Parishad, the meeting centered on issues including journalists’ pensions, provident fund, health insurance, wage board implementation, travel concessions, and the long-pending demand for a Journalists’ Protection Law.
New National Executive Announced
After the official election process led by Chief Election Officer Mahesh Sinha, the following appointments were declared:
National President: Balwinder Singh Jammu
National General Secretary: D. Soma Sundar
Representatives from various states were also elected to the National Executive Council.
Three Key Resolutions Passed
1. Condemnation of False Cases Against Journalists: IJU expressed concern over the rising trend of filing false cases against journalists and demanded immediate intervention.
2. Restoration of Railway Concessions: The union urged the reinstatement of travel concessions for journalists discontinued during the COVID-19 period.
3. Editorial Appointment: With K. Suresh taking charge as Andhra Pradesh Media Council Chairman, Rahul Devalapalli was appointed as the new editor of Scribe News, IJU’s monthly magazine.
Chhattisgarh’s Representation
Representing Chhattisgarh, P.C. Rath and Dilip Sahu highlighted the fragmented nature of journalist organizations in the state, which limits collective bargaining power. Despite this, sustained efforts have led the government to increase the Samman Nidhi to ₹20,000 per month. The state union remains active with campaigns such as “Save Journalism – Save Democracy” held at seven locations on March 23, protests against the killing of journalists in Manipur and Gaza, and demonstrations following the murder of Bijapur journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, which prompted an STF investigation.
The union has also extended legal assistance in Majithia Wage Board cases — coordinating 120 cases so far, including one award of ₹12.5 lakh and a pending claim of ₹1.54 crore in the High Court.
The Jaipur meeting emerged as a crucial platform for strengthening the journalist community nationwide. It underscored the commitment to safeguard journalists’ rights, ensure fair compensation, and uphold press freedom — reaffirming IJU’s role as a strong national voice for Indian media professionals.
