Question : Study on Increasing Incidents of Attacks on Journalists

(a) whether the Press Council of India (PCI) has constituted any committee to study the increasing incidents of attacks on journalists in the country and if so, the details thereof and the findings/recommendations of the committee along with the action taken by the Government thereon;
(b) the other remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard during the last two years;
(c) whether the Government has implemented or proposes to implement any scheme for welfare of journalists/media personnel; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a) & (b) The Press Council of India had constituted a Sub-Committee to examine the issue of Safety of Journalists to ensure a safe working environment for journalists in India. The Sub-Committee submitted its report on 08.07.2015. The said Report was examined in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and it was forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for appropriate action. However, MHA had informed that the existing laws in the country are adequate for protection of the citizens including journalists. MHA had also informed that ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule (List II) to the Constitution of India and hence state governments are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and also for prosecuting the accused criminals through the law enforcement machinery within their jurisdiction. Representations on providing security are received from or on behalf of individuals, including journalists. All such representations are examined and based on inputs received regarding threat assessment, required action is taken. Central Government attaches highest importance to prevention of crimes. An advisory on safety of journalists has been issued by Ministry of Home Affairs to States/UTs on 20th October 2017, which is available at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ website viz., https://mha.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Advisafety_20-10-2017_24102017.pdf.

(c) & (d) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting implements ‘Journalist Welfare Scheme’ to provide one time ex gratia relief on urgent basis to journalists or their families under extreme hardship on account of death of journalists and to the journalist in case of permanent disability, major listed ailments and in case of accidents causing serious injuries necessitating hospitalization. The detailed guidelines for ‘Journalist Welfare Scheme’ is available at the Press Information Bureau’ website viz., http://www.pib.nic.in/ AllMediafacilitation.aspx?MenuId=43.

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