Ganderbal Press Association meets CM Omar

Raise key demands to improve working conditions of journalists
Ganderbal, Feb 22: A delegation of Ganderbal Press Association (GPA), led by its President Ayaz Sofi and Vice President Raja Syed, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Dak Bungalow in Ganderbal Saturday. The meeting focused on addressing pressing issues faced by journalists in the district.
A statement issued here said that the delegation presented key demands to the Chief Minister in a bid to improve the working conditions of the media fraternity. During the discussion, the delegation emphasised the urgent need for a dedicated space for journalists in Ganderbal. President Ayaz Sofi, along with Vice President Raja Syed and members Shah Basit, Hadi Hidayat, and Mushtaq Ahmad, highlighted the challenges faced by media professionals due to the lack of a permanent workspace. “The delegation proposed the allocation of land or a building to establish a media hub, which would enable journalists to operate more efficiently and contribute to transparent and responsible journalism. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the delegation of his support and promised to explore possible solutions to address their demand,” the statement said.
It said that another critical issue raised during the meeting was the frequent restrictions imposed on journalists during VVIP visits, including those of the Chief Minister himself. “The delegation pointed out that such limitations hinder journalists from covering important events, depriving the public of timely and accurate information. In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the GPA members that steps would be taken to ensure better media access to official events in the future, and such restrictions would not be imposed going forward,” the statement said. “The meeting concluded on a positive note, with the Chief Minister acknowledging the vital role of the media in a democratic society. He reiterated his commitment to addressing the concerns of journalists in Ganderbal and pledged his full cooperation in supporting the media fraternity.” The GPA expressed its gratitude to the Chief Minister for giving a patient hearing their demands.