FN: Frederick Noronha’s blog

Currently, the Goa Union of Journalists is seized with the issue of pensions for retiring journalists. Priviledged as we are, this is the only private sector class of employees who not only get our wages regulated by the government, but also now get a (even if nominal) pension in Goa.

Thanks to the Parrikar government’s sense of priorities, a retiring journalist is now entitled to Rs 1000 by way of a government pension. But, journos were quick to realise, this is hardly sufficient. So, they want a hike to Rs 3000 pm.

Of course, the Rane government (till now at least) and the bureaucrats taking the decision, put their foot down. If retiring journalists want more pensions, then they need to contribute more, they argued. (Obviously, the reserves would run out fast otherwise.)

But, to add to the complications, the younger journalists resent the fact that they would have to pay a hiked-up contribution, so that an elder already-retired segment (who never paid any contributions) could get a three-fold hike in pensions. This view came out strongly at the 2006 union general body.

To make things even worse, the managements, who were supposed to contribute to the kitty and build the pensions’ fund, are unwilling to do so. Or have just pointedly refused!

So that’s where things stands. A complex issue indeed!

July 2006 debates on the GoaJourno mailing lists have begun with some angry perspectives on interruptions at a news conference.

Rupesh Samant of PTI and Y Balamuralikrishna of the UNI are early posters on this issue.

Rupesh’s plaint is: “Hi guys, sometimes journalists can get so nagging. I was covering a Das munshi press conference in Margao. Sports minister as he is Munshi is also the Information and Broadcasting minister. When I ventured to ask Munshi a question related to his IB ministry, one journalist who is also a member on our mailing list had the gall to say “Mr Munshi is here to answer sports related questions”. I find this apalling. This enabled Munshi to wriggle out of the nasty
question I was feilding him. This is so not done. This is absolutely unethical and pissing off.”

Rumours are rife among the media circuit that the Times of India is planning to come out with a Goa edition, printed out of Pilerne, at their plot given to them in the early ‘nineties when Suresh Parulekar was minister. If that happens, how will it impact Goa’s far-from-inspiring journalism?

Meanwhile, this blog entry is confirming that the Vijay Times has been taken over by the Times of India. Likewise, another blog entry with more details is called “A small Tribune story helped TOI pick up VK, VT”.