Print & Electronic Media Association J&K seeks financial relief during covid pandemic, Demands to declare scribes as covid frontline workers.

JAMMU: Print & Electronic Media Association, J&K on Monday sought  financial assistance for the accredited journalists  similar to  announced by Lt Governor J&K Manoj Sinha for senior citizens and others today.
The Association apprised the Lt Governor  J&K Manoj Sinha that all the journalists and photo journalists who are  bringing every news, order and programme before public are living  in financial  distressed,  they are facing lot of problems due to croronavirus Lockdown in the J&K .  
It has also apprised the Lt Governor J&K  that all the accredited and non accredited journalists  are severely hit due to ongoing coronavirus lockdown for the second year. 
The Print and Electronic Media Association, J&K urged  the Lt Governor to urgently  sanctioned financial assistance for the journalists who are solely dependent on salary.  Nowadays they  are worst hit due to lockdown. 
 In his address Sudhir Kumar told that since the journalists   are working shoulder to shoulder along with  J&K Govt and  helping the govt’s that its day to day  advisory, programme and steps to contain virus should reach to peoples’ door steps. He urged Lt Governor J&K  to declare journalists are  as covid frontline warriors. All journalism must be given free  medical treatment and  tests if  unfortunately any  accredited  journalist tested positive in J&K.  
He urged the J&K government to take this as a special case for accredited  journalists and  Also non accredited journalists and provide the financial package similar to which has been announced for the  senior citizens and others today. 
Earlier, all the journalists after following SoPs and COVID19 guidelines paid tribute to photo journalist Ashok Sodhi  on his death Anniversary  in a function held  outside Press Club Jammu  complex.
Speaking on the occasion, President of the Association Afzal Shah said that Sodhi had attained martyrdom while performing is professional duties during a fierce encounter  between  police and militants in Samba on May, 11, 2009. 
 President, Print & Electronic Media Association, J&K has also  demanded a financial package  for the accredited journalists  similar to that had been announced for others  by the J&K Government.
He also  advised all  the colleagues to cooperate  with govt by following the social distancing and wear masks,  besides, wash your hands   frequently with the sanitizer or soap. Do not touch any railing  in the any complex, he added.
Those present included  Surjeet Singh, Raman Raina, Shilpa Thakur, Sonu Karlupia,Tilak Mehra, Sanjay Gupta, Ravinder Singh , Naresh Bhagat  and others.