Recognising a silent service
THE Government's decision to implement a
social security benefit scheme for local media persons is an indication
that the silent services rendered by the latter are receiving some
recognition by the country's decision-makers.
We would not be exaggerating when we say that the media personnel of
this country have been the least troublesome and irritating from the
viewpoint of governments.
This is mainly because they have not been badgering the State
vociferously and bitterly over entitlements, rights, salary demands and
the like.
They have also not been holding the public to ransom over these
requirements. All this despite being a most articulate and eloquent
group of professionals, who, with the written or spoken word, could win
hearts and minds and "move mountains".
No, the media persons of Sri Lanka have thus far kept the public
interest uppermost in their minds and worked noiselessly
behind-the-scenes with those who matter to get some of their dues. A
case in point is the pension scheme for journalists which is believed to
be gradually becoming a reality.
This was achieved with gentle persuasion and quiet diplomacy and not
with tumultuous trade union action which brings grave suffering to
particularly the poor of the land. Journalists have also not been
mournfully crying for more, thereby incurring the wrath of all.
Yet, no one could say that the services rendered by local journalists
are any inferior to those that are purportedly dispensed among the
people by other prestigious professionals of the country.
Keeping the people informed and abreast of developments, both local
and foreign "25 hours of the day" is no mean task and our media men and
women have been sticking to this task with hardly a whimper.
This is probably why our media community tends to be taken for
granted but we could be happy over the fact that President Mahinda
Rajapakse has had an insight into the problems of media personnel.
This accounts for the mention, the problems of media persons have won
in the Mahinda Chinthana. It is relieving that concrete moves are afoot
to resolve these problems.
It cannot be emphasized enough that a social security benefit scheme
is a stitch in time. Hopefully, such schemes would be rendered sensitive
to inflationary pressures. For, the material problems borne by media
persons are enormous.
For instance, many journalists have begun to die in harness. So grave
are the risks to their lives. Accordingly, journalists' lives need to be
fully insured to enable at least their next-of-kin to enjoy a degree of
financial security when they are no more.
Journalists also need a secure roof over their heads. Right now,
there is no guarantee that all journalists could enjoy this facility
although we are fully appreciative of the couple or so of housing
schemes which have already been launched for media persons by the State.
The social security benefit scheme could go some distance in meeting
the more urgent material needs of journalists. But they need to be
progressively rid of their pressing cares if they are to function with
increasing efficiency.
No one would dispute the point that a burden-free media community
would be more effective defenders of democracy. |