JAK bats for demands with Minister

Sometimes the media is breaking news. For the Journalists Association of Karnataka (JAK) which has taken up cudgels on behalf of newspaper employees, it was a hectic week which ended with hope of good tidings to come.
Prof. Harishchandra Bhat, President, JAK along with Ramanujam, Vice President, led a delegation of journalists including non-journalists from Deccan Herald and Prajavani, to Labour Minister, Bache Gowda, pressing for certain common demands for both the category of employees, such as enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, among other issues.

Acknowledging the positive response of the Minister, Prof Bhat said it had given the delegation a lot of hope that their demand would be met. However, the JAK delegates had an unpleasant surprise earlier when a senior Minister refused to accede to their request. When told that the BMTC authorities were not renewing the Journalist Bus Passes and extending the concession/privilege only for Accredited Reporters, and that this privilege was to be extended to all as per the Standing Order issued by the then CM Devaraj Urs in 1972, the Minister turned down their demand. The JAK’s other demands for extending facilities like KSRTC bus passes, invitations to Government functions, Railway Travel Coupons, etc. also to the Desk Journalists  on shifts, also met with a tepid response. Prof Bhat stated that it was a relief to JAK when at this juncture, Mr. Jayarama Raje Urs, Secretary, Information, intervened on their behalf and enlightened the Minister justifying their our demand.

Not willing to take no for an answer, the combative Prof Bhat, along with Shantharam Bhat and Nethrakere Udaya Shankar, went to the residence of Mr. Katta Subramanya Naidu, Information Minister the next morning despite not having an appointment. The Minister was gracious enough to grant them an audience, and also a patient hearing. He expressed his eagerness to give us all the facilities including bus passes, and asked the new Information Director Mr. Mallikarjuna Kelagade to come up with an appropriate proposal in this regard. He also spoke to Mr. Jayarama Raje Urs on the issue.

Earlier, Prof. Harishchandra Bhat led a delegation of the Editors of local newspapers from Belgaum to the Information Director and the Chief Secretary of the Government of Karnataka, Shri.S.V. Ranganath, IAS, in connection with the demands of the rural newspapers for their quota of advertisements through Information Department only. Prof. Bhat said the response was encouraging, giving them a lot of hope that their demand would be fulfilled.

Prof. Bhat also had a role in the extension of the Wage Boards for
Working Journalists and Newspaper Employees till December this year. His active intervention with the Labor Minister finally ensured a new lease of life for the wage board with effect from May 23, 2010.

JAK has taken up a major membership drive and has planned a few programmes at State level in the near future, such as a three day workshop on Science Writing, repeat training programme for the moffusil