The three-member team of Press Council of India (PCI) led by Mr S N Sinha held wide-ranging deliberations with Minister of Information, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) here today.The members of the visiting Sub-Committee include C K Nayak, Dr Suman Gupta, who were accompanied by Director Information Muneer-ul-Islam.PCI members apprised the Minister of the issues flagged by the media owners, editors and working journalists in their meetings with the panel during the past two days.The PCI team informed the Minister that during their stay in Kashmir for the past two days, they held extensive deliberations with media owners, editors and working journalists associations to know about the issues and challenges confronting them.The PCI team sought the Minister's intervention in initiating welfare measures for the journalists of J&K including institution of welfare scheme, health insurance cover and pension.
The members also gave some suggestions regarding the accreditation of journalists.Welcoming the suggestions offered by the PCI members, the Minister assured that all their views would duly be considered by the Department.The Minister sought the intervention of the PCI in countering the negative and vicious propaganda unleashed by various TV news channels against J&K and projecting the State in a positive light.The Minister added that the negative coverage of the State adversely hits the State's tourism industry, and in turn dents its economy.Taking cognizance of issue raised by the committee members, the Minister also issued advisory to ensure that the journalists identity card should be treated as their curfew passes during restrictions.Zulfkar Ali said the Government would look into the issue of internet shutdowns in the State so that the journalists can perform their professional duties without any communication disruption.