Panaji: Goa will become only the second state after Maharashtra to have a legislation which will protect journalists from violence and damage to life and property.
There have been several attacks on journalists across the country and the Goa government has assured everyone to introduce a legislation 'Goa Journalist Welfare Bill' which will provide protection to journalists from violence and any damage to life and property, while discharging professional duties.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made the much-awaited announcement in his budget speech in the Goa Legislative Assembly at Porvorim on Thursday.
Maharashtra is the only other state to have such a legislation.
The Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) under its new executive committee 2019-21 had recently submitted the draft of the much-needed 'Goa State Journalists Protection Act' to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The Chief Minister was kept informed about the development on the Journalists Protection Acts in other states since June 2019.
“On behalf of the journalist fraternity in Goa, I congratulate and thank the Chief Minister for bestowing Goa with the Bill. Once introduced, the Bill will help Goan journalists to work in a fair and fearless work environment,” said GUJ president Rajtilak Naik.