Lok Sabha Question No. 4573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: Study on Increasing Incidents of Attacks on Journalists
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU, ANJU BALA, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4573 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2018

## STUDY ON INCREASING INCIDENTS OF ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS

## 4573.   SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## ANSWER

## 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  20 th 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.

be pleased to state:

- (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?

(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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