dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

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.

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

www.lassanaflora.com
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.helpheroes.lk/

| News | Editorial | Financial | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries | News Feed |

Produced by Lake House Copyright � 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor