Lalu, Paswan for wage revision for mediapersons

Patna, Aug 27 (PTI) RJD President Lalu Prasad and UnionMinister Ramvilas Paswan today favoured the constitution of anew wage board for journalists and other employees of mediaorganisations in the wake of seventh Pay Commission forgovernment employees. "I will write a strong letter to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi for constitution of a new wage board to helpjournalists and other employees of media organisations runtheir households properly in the light of price rise," Prasadsaid. "Journalists and other media organisation employees areeducated citizens of the country and take risk in collectionand dissemination of news for betterment of society anddeserves a handsome raise in their pay and perks likegovernment employees are getting due to the seventh paycommission," he said. Prasad said he is with the mediapersons on the issueand if the need arises, would hit the streets with them. "Be ready to even go to jail in course of the agitationfor new wage revision panel for mediapersons. I will be withyou and will also not hesitate to be with you even in jail,"Prasad said at a function of Federation of PTI EmployeesUnions here. Prasad told PTI Federation General Secretary M S Yadavand other trade union leaders to make a strong case forsetting up of a new wage revision body and chalk outagitational programme after uniting mediapersons of the entirecountry. "I will stand strongly with you on this issue. Justintimate me about the date and course of your programme," hesaid. The RJD chief alleged that the BJP-led government at theCentre is catering to the need of owners of media houses andpays little attention to the need of journalists and otheremployees of newspapers and news agencies. "We will not let this government ignore the genuinedemands of media organisation unions for enhancing salary andother allowances of journalists and non-journalists and willgherao them to achieve it," Prasad said. Paswan too supported the demand for setting up of a newwage board for hike in pay and perks of mediapersons similarto the seventh pay commission. Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind had yesterday favoured anew wage board for hike in salaries of mediapersons. PTI ARSNS KK BSA ARCBSA