The Andhra Pradesh government has set up a high-powered committee to examine cases involving attacks, murders and harassment of journalists, with the move aimed at addressing concerns over the safety of scribes.
The government issued GO 1913 on Wednesday, outlining the composition of the committee. The State Home Minister will head the panel as chairman, while the Information and Public Relations Minister will be its vice-chairman. Representatives of journalists’ associations and the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations have also been included as members.
The committee has been constituted following demands from journalists’ organisations for stronger action in cases involving attacks on journalists and better protection for them while carrying out their professional duties.
Safety Measures:
According to the government, the panel is intended to address issues related to the safety of journalists and safeguard the values of journalism as the “Fourth Estate”.
Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathi held discussions with senior officials regarding the formation of the committee, the government said.
According to a news report by The Hindu, the government also highlighted steps taken to restore facilities for journalists, including accreditation and health insurance. It said several journalists who were eligible for accreditation under the previous government had not received the facility. Under the present system, the government claimed, the number of accreditations increased after all eligible journalists were considered.
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The government also referred to a similar high-powered committee constituted in 2016 during the previous TDP government and said that the panel had functioned effectively.